Brian Mendoza stuns Sebastian Fundora, boxing world with seventh-round KO
Brian Mendoza never gave up in his boxing career. And he never gave up against Sebastian Fundora on Saturday night.
And now the Albuquerque fighter is reaping the rewards.
Mendoza was struggling against “The Towering Inferno” when he buckled his knees with a perfect left hook and then took him out with a follow-up right-left combination in the seventh round of a scheduled 12-round 154-pound fight at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The stunning victory followed a fifth-round knockout of former unified titleholder Jeison Rosario in November, which resurrected his career after two losses.
“I started losing a couple rounds but I didn’t care,” Mendoza said of his performance on Saturday. “You’ll never see me give up. I would’ve given up years ago when I took some losses. I kept on sparring and look at me now. A year ago I was a swing bout after the main event. Nobody cared who I was or what I was doing.
“This is proof. You keep working you’re going to make it baby!”
Mendoza (22-2, 16 KOs) was written off by many observers when he lost two of three fights between 2019 and 2021, the second one a wide decision against talented Jesus Ramos.
Then, after stopping a journeyman in March of last year, he received a phone call that would change his life.
He was asked whether he was interested in fighting Rosario on short notice. Interested? Heck yeah. And he took full advantage of the opportunity by stopping the Dominican, which set up the fight against one of the most intimidating 154-pounders in the world on Saturday night.
And Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs) looked the part for six-plus rounds, dominating the fight both at distance and inside in spite of his 6-foot-6 frame. He lost only one round on one card through six rounds.
Then everything changed in an instant. Mendoza countered a missed uppercut with as vicious a left hook as you’ll ever see, which hurt Fundora badly and left him wide open for the follow-up right and left that put him flat on his back.
And that’s where he stayed. He got up on his elbows but didn’t have the wherewithal to get to his feet and was counted out.
“I never quit,” Mendoza said. “I keep going. You can beat me all you want, but if you don’t kill me, I’m coming back. They didn’t kill me in my career and it’s too late now, I’m getting better each time.
“I want to thank Fundora for taking this fight he didn’t need to take it. It was really risky for where he was at. Thank you for the opportunity and we did it!
Just like that, Mendoza went from after thought two fights ago to an “interim” titleholder who is now in position to challenge undisputed champion Jermell Charlo or at least get another big fight next.
He has arrived at 29 years old.
“Now that I have this belt I want to put this around my mom hopefully,” he said. “I earned this. … I want to celebrate with my family. But they can’t deny me now. The next one up is Charlo. He’s obviously undisputed, but I just always want the best.
“When they called me for this I signed it no hesitation. So I’m waiting for a call. We’re ready for the world, man.”
Meanwhile, Fundora, who was on the brink of getting his first title shot, had no regrets.
“It was a good punch,” he said afterward. “I don’t recognize that moment, but I’m fine. I’m healthy now, and I’ll be back. I’ll be back to take the division and this is a step up and a step down. It happens but I’ll be back.
“I’m not sorry I took this fight. This is boxing. We gotta fight and we have to make these fights. Congratulations to Brian Mendoza he did his thing, but like I said, I’ll be back.”