As the fight wore on, Tellez continued to do the tidier work, beating Mendoza to the punch in exchanges and keeping rounds close but in his favour. Mendoza remained dangerous throughout and never stopped looking for a turning point, yet he was unable to land the kind of shot that could shift control of the fight.
Tellez receives a massive HEADBUTT from Mendoza 😳 #TellezMendoza
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The grit Tellez showed was the real story here. Fighting through a nose injury is one thing, but to actually increase your output and take over the fight while dealing with it is impressive for a 25-year-old. He used the catalyst to step on the gas and take over the fight.
Mendoza, 32, really does seem to hit a wall around the seventh or eighth round when he’s under sustained pressure. Just like in the Tszyu fight. He looked sharp and competitive in the first few rounds, making Tellez work. Once Tellez started landing those cleaner shots in the middle rounds, Mendoza’s work rate cratered.
By the end, he was wearing the fight on his face again. It’s that same “warrior’s curse” where his chin is so good that he stays in there to take a beating even when his tank is empty.
It’s a tough spot for Mendoza now. He’s clearly world-class, but elite young guys like Tellez and champions like Tszyu are proving that if you can weather his early storm, he’s vulnerable to being outworked and broken down late.
The bout went the full distance with no knockdowns reported, and Tellez was awarded the decision, marking an important win as he looks to push toward bigger opportunities in the division. For Mendoza, it is another setback and adds to a difficult run as he tries to hold his place among the contenders at junior middleweight.
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