Yoenis Tellez W10 Brian Mendoza... In the PBC co-feature at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the Hector Bermudez-trained Yoenis “El Bandolero” Tellez, of Santiago de Cuba, overcame a stern test from veteran Brian Mendoza of Las Vegas to earn a well-deserved ten-round unanimous decision. The junior middleweight contest opened with both fighters employing a tactical approach, finding openings to land their jab-straight right combinations. Then, in round three, an accidental clash of heads badly hurt Tellez, who dropped to a knee in agony. He took a long time to recover and it looked like the fight might end prematurely in a ‘No Contest’. However, the Cuban prodigy, 153.8 lbs., found the strength to push through the pain and continue and the tenor of the fight shifted to back-and-forth action. Tellez fought back well and was particularly effecting landing his overhand right. 

 

In a thrilling seventh round, the Rich Barrientes-trained Mendoza, 153.2 lbs., pressed the action and looked like he would change the momentum of the bout, though Tellez was perfectly willing to exchange power shots. Despite suffering a cut over his left eye in the eighth, Mendoza, a former interim WBC titlist who handed Fundora his lone defeat, remained game as he continued to apply relentless pressure. Tellez closed strong finding his target with several eye-catching flush right hands. 

 

With tallies of 97-93 twice, and a very generous 98-92, Tellez improved to 12-1 (8 KOs). A veteran of 150 amateur bouts, Tellez seized the vacant interim WBA super welterweight title last March but lost it five months later to Abass Barou.  

 

Commenting on the severity of the third-round headbutt, Tellez said, “My corner lifted me up and they got me back into the fight. When you're a warrior, you don't show any weakness, but I had trouble breathing, there's no doubt. The pain was a 10 out of 10, but I'm a warrior and my corner told me I had the courage and that I could get this win. The biggest thing was that I had to be aware not to get hit in the nose. I definitely had to think about it. I had to think more and focus on my defense.”

 

“There's nothing I can do about the decision,” lamented the 23-5 (17 KOs) Mendoza, “but I definitely thought I was way more in the fight. I honestly thought I took it in a close fight. He kept trying to switch to smother me and that's how the headbutt happened. It was just because of him switching. We stay ready. This was on three-weeks notice, so Imagine with a full camp. We're going to keep pushing forward and see what the team has for me.” 

 

Yoenli Hernandez TKO4 Terrell Gausha... Yoenli Hernandez, 158.4 lbs., A Cuban based out of Providence, Rhode Island, easily defeated two-time title challenger Terrell Gausha, of Encino, California, over four one-sided rounds. Midway through the fourth frame, Gausha took an overhand right around his guard leading to a sudden and quick stoppage by the referee at the 1:17 mark. Gausha offered little offense while sustaining heavy artillery from the Cuban throughout the contest. Hernandez's professional record is now 10-0 with 9 KOs. As an amateur, Hernandez captured gold at the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Serbia and the 2023 IBA World Boxing Championships in Uzbekistan.  The 38 year-old Gausha, who came in overweight at 160.8 lbs., lost his first fight inside the distance and left the arena at 24-6-1 with 12 KOs.