Mendoza Gets Shocking Upset, Lee Digs Deep & Nunez Receives Gift Decision
In a huge upset, Brian Mendoza (22-2, 16KO) shocked the boxing world by stopping Sebastian Fundora (21-1, 13KO) to win the WBC Interim junior middleweight title. Defending the WBC Interim title, Fundora’s height and reach were a major factor early, as he kept Mendoza at bay with the jab and began to find a home with the uppercuts. He was able to do whatever he wanted in the fight, coming forward and landing hard shots at will. Furthermore, Fundora started going to the body, causing even more trouble for his opponent. However, Mendoza managed to get in close and landed the overhand right a few times, but he continued to get hit with uppercuts.
In round seven, Fundora started coming on strong, fighting well on the front foot, behind the jab as he was in full control. Then, out of nowhere, Mendoza landed a punishing counter left hook that stunned the WBC Interim titlist. He followed up with a devastating right-hand, left-hook combination that dropped Fundora, who did not try to get up and watched the referee count to ten. Mendoza pulled off a huge upset, scoring his third straight knockout victory, and will undoubtedly receive a big jump in the rankings.
BRANDON LEE SURVIVES A TOUGH TEST AGAINST VETERAN PEDRO CAMPA
Junior welterweight Brandun Lee (28-0, 23KO) had to dig deep for a victory over tough veteran Pedro Campa (34-3-1, 23KO). Lee went to work early landing power shots that had Campa hurt early several times in the opening rounds.
Campa ate punches like M&M candy before going to work to the body and sucking the energy out of the younger Lee. The pressure from the crafty veteran became the story of the middle rounds as he continued to land hard shots to the body that froze Lee a few times.
Toward the end of the fight, both men went to war until the final bell. Campa came forward focusing on the body as Lee overcame fatigue and landed countershots that halted Campa’s momentum.
Once again, the judges’ scorecards (99-91, 98-92, and 97-93) were terrible, and in favor of Lee. 3kingsboxing had it 96-94 for Lee. Something needs to be done about this. Fighter sacrifice way too much for judges to turn in these types of scorecards.
LUIZ NUNEZ RECEIVES A GIFT VICTORY OVER CHRISTIAN OLIVO
WBA #4 rated featherweight Luis Nunez (19-0, 13KO) got a gift decision over a game Christian Olivo (20-1-1, 7KO).
Olivo came out on fire in the beginning rounds, landing a flurry of punches that stagnated Nunez’s offense. The Mexican took one or two hard shots only to return a series of hard hooks to the body before landing the overhand right counters.
Nunez took control in the middle rounds by coming forward behind a stiff jab before landing hooks to the body. He also found a home for the uppercuts and left hooks that momentarily halted the momentum of Olivo.
Down the stretch, it was a close fight. Nunez was looking to land one big shot. However, Oliva hurt the Dominican and kept landing hard body shots until the final bell. The judge’s scorecard (100-90, 98-92, and 97-93) were criminally in favor of Nunez. 3kingsboxing had it 96-94 in for Olivo.
