Former world champion Brian Mendoza preferred his view from the highest. A win over the top-rated Cuban star Yoenis Tellez may put him again on this planet title on-deck circle.
Mendoza will tackle Tellez in a brilliant welterweight showdown on March 28 on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The 2 former champions will likely be within the co-main occasion, supporting WBC tremendous welterweight world champion Sebastian Fundora defending his world title towards former unified world champion Keith Thurman in the principle occasion.
Mendoza-Tellez was slotted to switch the postponed semi-main between Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr.
Tellez (11-1, 8 KOs) received the WBA (interim) title with a March 2025 UD 12 over former world champion Julian Williams. However he misplaced the belt in his first defence final August. Nevertheless, Tellez comes into the struggle off a December win, and he’s excited to get again into title rivalry.
“I respect Brian Mendoza and all the things he’s achieved, however on March 28, I’m coming hungry and able to seize this chance,” stated Tellez. “I’ve labored too arduous to let this second go me by. I’m ready to depart all the things within the ring, as a result of my purpose is to get again to that world title struggle, and this can be a main step in that path”, he stated.
New Mexico native, now Vegas-residing Mendoza (23-4, 17 KOs), earned the WBC (interim) title with a highlight-reel KO of reigning world champion Sebastian Fundora in April 2023. He adopted up that win by touring to Australia for one more enormous bout to problem (then) WBO 154-pound world champion Tim Tszyu, shedding by UD 12.
In his subsequent struggle, he certain didn’t come again delicate, stepping in with 154-pounder Serhii Bohachuk. Mendoza has had a profession of pulling off enormous wins, and he’s trying to do the identical towards Tellez.
In 2022, he knocked out former unified 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario. In 2021, he received a call towards (now) interim WBC middleweight champion Jesus Ramos Jr. He’s now trying so as to add Tellez to his checklist of massive wins.
“I couldn’t be extra excited to be again in Las Vegas on a card like this,” stated Mendoza. “A win right here turns all the things round and places me proper again the place I belong, with the perfect on this planet at 154 kilos. I’m hungrier than ever to get again to the highest and able to knock out whoever will get in my method, beginning with Tellez.”
Massive struggle? Massive opponent? Pulling off a giant win? Don’t rely out Brian Mendoza.
