As the fight wore on, Tellez continued to do the neater job, pounding Mendoza in return and keeping rounds close but in his favor. 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 HEADCOVER from Mendoza 😳 #TellezMendoza
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The eagerness Tellez showed was the real story here. Fighting through a nose injury is one thing, but to really step up 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, seems to really hit a wall around the seventh or eighth round when under sustained pressure. Just like in the Tszyu battle. 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 there to take a beating even when his tank is empty.
It’s a tough spot for Mendoza right now. He’s clearly world-class, but elite young guys like Tellez and champions like Tszyu prove that if you can weather his early storm, he’s vulnerable to being worked out and broken down late.
The bout went the entire distance with no knockouts reported and Tellez was awarded the decision, marking an important win as he looks to push for bigger opportunities in the division. For Mendoza, it’s another setback and adds to a difficult run as he tries to keep his place among the junior middleweight contenders.
 kept himself in the mix at 154 pounds with a 10-round decision over Brian Mendoza (23-5, 17 KOs), using sharper punching and){kind=link}