Sergio Mendoza knocks out and stops Hugo Hernandez in three rounds in Mexico
Sergio Mendoza (center) stops Hugo Hernandez (left) – Photo by Lore Gil/Bxstrs Promotions
Sergio Mendoza calls himself a fighter to watch at 112 pounds.
Mendoza dropped goalie Hugo Hernandez three times en route to a third-round victory Saturday night at Gimnasio Sergio Maldonado Cota in Mendoza's hometown of Hermosillo, Mexico.
Midway through the opening round between southpaws, a left hand to the head dropped Hernandez to the canvas. Hernandez hit the count, and continued with Mendoza coming down, connecting with a series of left hands to the head.
Hernandez continued the tactic in the second round, trying to put Mendoza in a defensive position. Boldly, Mendoza landed a series of straight left hands or uppercuts to Hernandez's head.
Early in the third round, a left uppercut to the head dropped Hernandez to the canvas. Hernandez hit a count, but was confused by a hook to the head. Mendoza went down after a flurry of punches, and although he beat the count, Hernandez stood limp, prompting referee Octaviano Lopez to stop the fight at 1:13.
The 24-year-old fought on March 22, stopping Jesus Valle Chon in the opening round. Mendoza has stopped four of his last five opponents.
Hernandez, who lives in Texcoco, Mexico, falls to 19-8-1, 8 KOs. Hernandez hasn't fought since his world title challenge against Juan Alejo in August 2022.
The 28-year-old has lost to Julio Cesar Martinez, Angel Ayala, and Adrian Curiel, but has wins over Daniel Valladares and Rosendo Hugo Guarneros.
In another bout, fringe junior bantamweight contender Wilibaldo Garcia of Copala, Mexico stopped Carlos Bautista in the opening round, improving to 22-5-1, 13 KO.
Wilibaldo García (right) – Photo by Lore Gil/Bxstrs Promotions
Garcia was the aggressor from the opening bell, ripping off a double combo to the head of Bautista. Towards the end of the round, a combination to the head followed by a right to the stomach dropped Bautista to the canvas, against the ropes. Bautista was able to hit the count, but was in no condition to continue, prompting referee Octaviano Lopez to stop the fight.
Garcia, 34, was coming off a decision win over Rigo Martinez Hernandez on February 9 in a busy fight. Garcia has won his last 10 fights since losing by split decision to Paul Butler in June 2021.
Garcia also suffered a multiple decision loss to former WBC bantamweight world title holder Alexandro Santiago in September 2020.
Bautista, who lives in Culiacan, Mexico, falls to 13-2-1 with 3 KOs. The 29-year-old fought Andres Olivas Alvarez in the second round of his last fight on August 19.
The BXSTRS card airs live on ESPN Knockout.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has handled boxing in Southern California and internationally since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. They can be reached at [email protected]
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