Sergio Mendoza (heart) stops Hugo Hernandez (left) – Picture by Lore Gil/Bxstrs Promotions
Sergio Mendoza is asserting himself as a fighter to regulate at 112 kilos.
Mendoza dropped gatekeeper Hugo Hernandez thrice en path to a third-round knockout win Saturday night time on the Gimnasio Sergio Maldonado Cota in Mendoza’s hometown of Hermosillo, Mexico.
Halfway via the opening spherical between southpaws, a left hand to the pinnacle dropped Hernandez to the canvas. Hernandez beat the depend, and proceeded to stroll Mendoza down, connecting with a collection of left palms to the pinnacle.
Hernandez continued the tactic in spherical two, making an attempt to place Mendoza on the defensive. Undaunted, Mendoza landed a collection of straight left palms or uppercuts to Hernandez’s head.
Early in spherical three, a left uppercut to the pinnacle dropped Hernandez to the canvas. Hernandez beat the depend, however was staggered by a proper hook to the pinnacle. Mendoza went down moments later from a barrage of punches, and though he beat the depend, Hernandez stood on wobbly legs, prompting referee Octaviano Lopez to cease the combat at 1:13.
The 24-year-old beforehand fought on March 22, stopping journeyman Jesus Valle Chon within the opening spherical. Mendoza has stopped 4 of his final 5 opponents.
Hernandez, who resides in Texcoco, Mexico, falls to 19-8-1, 8 KOs. Hernandez had not fought since knocking out former world title challenger Juan Alejo in August 2022.
The 28-year-old has misplaced to Julio Cesar Martinez, Angel Ayala, and Adrian Curiel, however does have wins over Daniel Valladares and Rosendo Hugo Guarneros.
Within the co-feature, fringe junior bantamweight contender Wilibaldo Garcia of Copala, Mexico stopped Carlos Bautista within the opening spherical, enhancing to 22-5-1, 13 KOs.
Wilibaldo García (proper) – Picture by Lore Gil/Bxstrs Promotions
Garcia was the aggressor from the opening bell, ripping two-punch combos to the pinnacle of Bautista. In the direction of the tip of the spherical, a mix to the pinnacle adopted by a proper to the abdomen dropped Bautista to the canvas, in opposition to the ropes. Bautista did handle to beat the depend, however was in no situation to proceed, prompting referee Octaviano Lopez to cease the combat.
The 34-year-old Garcia was coming off a choice win over journeyman Rigo Martinez Hernandez on February 9 in a stay-busy combat. Garcia has received his final 10 bouts since shedding a split-decision to Paul Butler in June 2021.
Garcia additionally suffered a majority determination loss to former WBC world bantamweight titleholder Alexandro Santiago in September 2020.
Bautista, who resides in Culiacan, Mexico, falls to 13-2-1 with 3 KOs. The 29-year-old fought to a no-contest in opposition to Andres Olivas Alvarez in spherical two of his final combat on August 19.
The BXSTRS card streamed stay on ESPN Knockout.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He might be reached at [email protected]
Observe @FSalazarBoxing
