Brian Mendoza

“La Bala”

RECORD

22 - 3 - 0

KOs

16

Weight 159.25 lbs (72.27 kg)

Age 30

Home Las Vegas, Nevada,

Complete Stats

Brian Mendoza is the epitome of a late bloomer, a smooth-boxing puncher rated among the best in the stacked 154-pound division. Read Bio

Next Fight / Mar 30, 2024


Brian Mendoza vs Serhii Bohachuk


T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

Latest News

Brian Mendoza News
PBC PodcastPBC Boxing Video
Feb 22, 2024 / Jose Valenzuela, Brian Mendoza

The PBC Podcast: Jose Valenzuela, Brian Mendoza

You don't want to miss what Valenzuela and Mendoza have to say, plus a look ahead to potential fights in 2024.

Tim TszyuPBC Boxing Video
Oct 15, 2023 / Tim Tszyu vs Brian Mendoza, Tim Tszyu, Brian Mendoza, Sam Goodman, Miguel Flores

Tim Tszyu Dominates Brian Mendoza, Retains World Title

The Australian superstar remains unbeaten, successfully defending his Junior Middleweight World Title with a clear victory over the dangerous Brian Mendoza Saturday night on SHOWTIME.

Brian MendozaPBC Boxing Video
Apr 9, 2023 / Sebastian Fundora vs Brian Mendoza, Sebastian Fundora, Brian Mendoza, Brandun Lee, Pedro Campa, Luis Nunez, Christian Olivo

Shocker! Brian Mendoza Stops Sebastian Fundora in Seven

Mendoza's career turnaround continues as he scores his second straight upset win, this time capturing the WBC interim 154-pound title Saturday night on SHOWTIME.

Fights

Brian Mendoza Fights

LOSS vs Tim Tszyu 24-0-0

Oct 15, 2023 Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia

Tim Tszyu WINS against Brian Mendoza by UD in Round 12 of 12

LOSS vs Tim Tszyu 24-0-0

Oct 14, 2023 Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia

Tim Tszyu WINS against Brian Mendoza by UD in Round 12 of 12

WIN vs Sebastian Fundora 20-1-1

Apr 08, 2023 Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California

Sebastian Fundora LOSES to Brian Mendoza by KO in Round 7 of 12

WIN vs Jeison Rosario 24-4-1

Nov 05, 2022 The Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jeison Rosario LOSES to Brian Mendoza by KO in Round 5 of 10

Win vs Benjamin Whitaker 15-7-0

Mar 26, 2022 Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Benjamin Whitaker by TKO in Round 5 of 8

LOSS vs Jesus Ramos Jr. 20-1-0

Sep 05, 2021 The Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jesus Ramos Jr. WINS against Brian Mendoza by UD in Round 10 of 10

LOSS vs Julian Williams 29-4-1

Jun 26, 2021 State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia

Julian Williams WINS against Brian Mendoza by in Round of 10

WIN vs Thomas LaManna 30-4-1

Aug 29, 2020 Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, USA

Thomas LaManna LOSES to Brian Mendoza by UD in Round 10 of 10

Loss vs Larry Gomez 9-1-0

Nov 30, 2019 Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Brian Mendoza LOSES to Larry Gomez by SD in Round 8 of 8

Win vs Rosemberg Gomez 20-7-1

Aug 17, 2019 Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, California, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Rosemberg Gomez by KO in Round 1 of 8

Win vs Carlos Mohamed Rodriguez 12-7-1

May 04, 2019 Stockton Arena, Stockton, California, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Carlos Mohamed Rodriguez by KO in Round 2 of 8

Win vs John David Charles 9-12-0

Nov 11, 2017 Lujan Building, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against John David Charles by TKO in Round 3 of 6

Win vs Tyler Pogline 6-13-1

Mar 18, 2017 Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Tyler Pogline by TKO in Round 2 of 6

Win vs Daniel Calzada 12-15-3

Jul 09, 2016 Santa Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Daniel Calzada by UD in Round 6 of 6

Win vs Joel Vargas 4-14-2

Feb 06, 2016 United Wireless Arena, Dodge City, Kansas, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Joel Vargas by TKO in Round 3 of 6

Win vs Francisco Isata 0-0-0

Jan 16, 2016 ABC Sports Complex, Springfield, Virginia, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Francisco Isata by TKO in Round 2 of 4

Win vs Anthony Hill 1-14-0

Dec 19, 2015 Lea County Events Center, Hobbs, New Mexico, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Anthony Hill by UD in Round 4 of 4

Win vs Eddie Cordova 4-10-1

Nov 14, 2015 ABC Sports Complex, Springfield, Virginia, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Eddie Cordova by TKO in Round 1 of 6

Win vs Michael Pickett 1-11-0

Oct 09, 2015 Riverside Ballroom, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Michael Pickett by TKO in Round 1 of 4

Win vs John Rozema 0-0-0

Sep 05, 2015 Buffalo Thunder Casino, Pojoaque, New Mexico, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against John Rozema by TKO in Round 1 of 4

Win vs Eric Rosales 0-4-0

Aug 22, 2015 United Wireless Arena, Dodge City, Kansas, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Eric Rosales by SD in Round 4 of 4

Win vs Dontre King 7-17-2

Jun 06, 2015 ABC Sports Complex, Springfield, Virginia, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Dontre King by KO in Round 3 of 4

Win vs Ivan Lucero 0-0-0

May 09, 2015 Buffalo Thunder Casino, Pojoaque, New Mexico, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Ivan Lucero by TKO in Round 1 of 4

Win vs Javier Eduardo Rivera 0-0-0

Feb 28, 2015 Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Javier Eduardo Rivera by UD in Round 4 of 4

Win vs Lazaro Jay Dominguez 1-0-0

Nov 15, 2014 Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Lazaro Jay Dominguez by UD in Round 4 of 4

Win vs Jesus Lopez 0-2-0

Jul 26, 2014 Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Jesus Lopez by KO in Round 1 of 4

Win vs Daniel Gonzalez 2-8-0

May 10, 2014 Buffalo Thunder Casino, Pojoaque, New Mexico, USA

Brian Mendoza WINS against Daniel Gonzalez by TKO in Round 1 of 4

Stats

Brian Mendoza “La Bala”

  • WINS 22
  • LOSSES 3
  • DRAWS 0
  • KOs 16

Weight 159.25 lbs (72.27 kg)

Height 5'10" (1.78 m)

Reach 70" (178 cm)

  • Born

    February 13, 1994
  • Age

    30
  • Country

    USA
  • Born in

    Albuquerque, NM
  • Trains in

    Las Vegas, NV
  • Stance

  • Rounds Boxed

    101
  • KO Percentage

    72.73%
  • Boxing Hero

    N/A

Fighter data provided by BoxRec Ltd. View disclaimer

Bio

Brian Mendoza Bio

Brian Mendoza is the epitome of a late bloomer, a smooth-boxing puncher rated among the best in the stacked 154-pound division.

A legacy of resilience

Brian Mendoza’s fighting spirit came from his parents, Mario and Lisset, each of whom survived separate and torturous journeys from their native Cuba to the United States. 

“My dad in the 90’s wanted his freedom. He needed more opportunities to provide for his family. He took that leap,” Mendoza said. “He swam to the American base in Guantanamo, swam hours across the ocean. My mum, she had to take a dangerous route here, too.”

Mario Mendoza made it to Florida and eventually settled on employment in New Mexico, where he met Lisset. Over a period of three decades, they worked numerous jobs and became parents supporting four children.  

“Thankfully,” Mendoza’s parents “made that tough journey and I’m here today because of it,” he said. 

A 16-year-old Mendoza made his amateur debut in boxing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, twice earning New Mexico Golden Gloves titles.

“I had less than 30 fights with a record of about 20-7,” said Mendoza, who competed from 140-to-152 pounds. “Even though I didn’t have many fights, I got the best out of it because I was fighting ranked fighters.”

Nicknamed “La Bala” (The Bullet), Mendoza got off to a blistering start as a professional, winning his first 11 professional bouts, seven by knockout. 

Mendoza debuted in May 2014 with a 39-second TKO of Daniel Gonzalez followed by another first-round knockout of Jesus Lopez in July and a four-round unanimous decision over Lazaro Jay Dominguez in November. 

Mendoza went 8-0 (5 KOs) in 2015 beginning with a four-round unanimous decision over Javier Eduardo Rivera (February) and first- and third-round knockouts of Ivan Lucero (May) and Dontre King (June).

Mendoza fought once during each of the last five months of 2015, a split-decision over Eric Rosales (August), first-round knockouts of John Rozema (September), Michael Pickett (October) and Eddie Cordova (November) and a four-round unanimous decision over Anthony Hill (Decemberl).

The year 2016 began with second- and third-round TKOs of Francisco Isata (January) and Joel Vargas (February) for Mendoza and ended with a six-round unanimous decision over Daniel Calzada (July). 

Mendoza rose to 16-0 (11 KOs) following second- and third-round TKOs of Tyler Pogline and John David Charles in March and November.

“I have power, but I’m not just a power puncher,” Mendoza said. “I don’t go in there trying to look for one shot.”

Rosario vs. Mendoza: November 5, 2022 (Courtesy of SHOWTIME Sports)

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Going 2-1 in 2019, Mendoza scored second- and first-round knockouts of Carlos Mohamed Rodriguez (May) and Rosemberg Gomez (August) before losing his first professional bout to Larry Gomez (November), who improved to 10-1 (8 KOs).

Mendoza split bouts while fighting once each in 2020 and 2021, handling Thomas LaManna by 10-round unanimous decision in August of the former before falling the same way to then-undefeated southpaw Jesus Ramos (17-0, 14 KOs) in September of the latter.

“I know I’m better than that. That’s basically what it was," Mendoza said. "I understand how I got here, but I know I’m better than this and it’s time to keep showing people."

Mendoza rebounded in dominant fashion over the course of his next three bouts. On March 26, 2022, he stopped Benjamin Whitaker in five one-sided rounds. The victory set up a showdown versus former unified 154-pound world champion Jeison Rosario on November 5, 2022. 

In front of a raucous crowd at The Armory in Minneapolis, Mendoza dominated the heavily-favored Dominican, dropping him in the second and then again in fifth, stopping Rosario with a brutal finish that same frame. 

“They thought I was a fill in,” said the 28-year-old Mendoza, who took the fight on ten days’ notice after Yoelvis Gomez suffered an injury. “I’ve been in the gym for seven months straight since I fought on March 26. This was anything but a last-minute call.”

Fundora vs. Mendoza: April 8, 2023 (PBC on SHOWTIME)

WORLD CLASS FOR A REASON

On April 8, 2023, Mendoza faced undefeated, 6-6 southpaw Sebastian Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Again, Mendoza was a big underdog (11-1 odds). The two went back and forth for much of the fight, trading thudding shots. By the fifth, Fundora had seized control, pounding Mendoza with short blows in close quarters. 

Trailing 60-54 on two cards, and 59-55 on the third—and bleeding badly from his nose—Mendoza came out with purpose in the seventh round as he closed the distance and kept Fundora from gaining leverage on his punches even as he was met with a consistent rhythm of uppercuts.

Early in the stanza, Mendoza took a half step back and countered Fundora with a picture-perfect left hook, freezing the dazed Fundora which allowed Mendoza to step in with a powerful left-right combo that flattened Fundora for good. 

"I would’ve given up years ago when I took some losses. You’ll never see me give up,” Mendoza said. “I predicted everything that was going to happen in my past two fights and how they were going to end and everything.”

On October 14, 2023, Mendoza dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Australian superstar Tim Tszyu, who successfully defended his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title and rose to 24-0 (17 KOs).

Tszyu had praise for Mendoza, whom the 28-year-old battled before his hometown fans at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.

“Man, he’s tough,” Tszyu said. “He’s crafty. He’s slick. He has power. He’s world class for a reason.”