On April 8, 2023, a number of rising stars within the sport of boxing entered the ring. Two-division world champion Shakur Stevenson, heavyweight contender Jared Anderson and unbeaten lightweight Keyshawn Davis all earned stoppage victories in Newark, New Jersey on ESPN. Meanwhile, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez overcame a broken jaw to defeat to claim the WBO Flyweight Championship. After a night full of big wins, one rising star did fall. Brian Mendoza knocked out previously unbeaten super middleweight interim champion Sebastian Fundora.
“I always said the dream wasn’t to come this far,” Mendoza said after earning the biggest win of his career thus far.
“It was to accomplish the goal, become a champion.”
After claiming his first interim title, Mendoza has set his sights on his next challenge. The New Mexico native hopes to fight the division’s undisputed champion, Jermell Charlo, in the near future.
“I’m in this for real. I just proved that. I told people, I’m not excited, ‘Ooh, yay, I made it this far.’ No. The dream was not to have ‘the title,’ the dream was to have ‘the titles,’ multiple,” he said during a recent episode of The DAZN Boxing Show.
“That’s what we’re going for. I want Charlo, I want the undisputed. I just beat [Fundora], now I’m solidified, they can’t deny me. But I beat Charlo, and I’m really, like — that’s history right there. I want to chase greatness.”