The origin of Brian Mendoza’s journey to a shot at the world title can be traced back to the moment his father swam from Cuba to Guantanamo Bay.
When discussing the origins of the fighting spirit which has carried him to an unlikely world title shot against Tim Tszyu, Brian Mendoza takes you back to the night his father swam into the US-controlled Guantanamo Bay on the island of Cuba.
“My dad in the ’90s wanted his freedom, he couldn’t see where the country was going,” Brian Mendoza says. “He needed more opportunities to provide for his family. There were things he couldn’t do when he was there. “You hear all those stories about people trying to make it on makeshift boats, it’s the same thing. Of course, many people have been caught and shot down in the water and they just leave you there. It’s insane. My dad, thankfully, made that tough journey and I’m here today because of it.”Mariano Mendoza still remembers pulling himself out of the water and striding towards a new life.
“There’s no guidance, there’s no promise of not ending up homeless. They don’t give you much of a start. Even when they send them here, the people when they receive you here, they say ‘Hey, if you want work, we have some in New Mexico.’ Just as he was considering undertaking supplementary work to make ends meet, he experienced a lasting, existential moment.
“It always stuck with me, this thing about perseverance. To just stick through it and that changes are coming, owls represent that along with wisdom. I felt a big change was coming and that’s exactly what happened.”
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