Tellez Wins Unanimous Decision Over Mendoza After Nose Injury

Yoenis Tellez overcame a severe nose injury from an accidental headbutt to defeat Brian Mendoza by unanimous decision in a 10-round super welterweight bout on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The 25-year-old Cuban improved his record to 12-1 with 8 knockouts, while Mendoza fell to 23-5 with 17 knockouts in the co-main event of a card headlined by Sebastian Fundora's defense against Keith Thurman.

The fight's turning point came early in the third round during an exchange, when Mendoza's forehead struck Tellez's nose, fracturing his nasal septum and causing heavy bleeding that pooled on the canvas. Referee Harvey Dock halted the action for nearly five minutes to allow medical treatment, an unusually long pause that drew applause from the crowd when Tellez signaled he was ready to continue. "The pain was 10 out of 10, and I was struggling to breathe," Tellez said afterward in the ring. "When you're a warrior, you don't admit weakness."

Before the injury, Tellez had begun to establish his rhythm, landing clean jabs and straight rights in the second round to find his range against the more experienced Mendoza. After resuming, Tellez regained composure, using...