| |
|
|
Yoenis Tellez Takes On Brian Mendoza In New Fundora vs.
Thurman Co-Main Event March 28
Rising young Cuban star Yoenis Tellez will square off
against top contender Brian Mendoza in a super welterweight
showdown between former interim champions that serves as the
new co-main event of a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on
Prime Video on Saturday, March 28 from the MGM Grand Garden
Arena in Las Vegas.
This fight replaces the previously announced Frank Sanchez
vs. Richard Torrez Jr. bout, which has been postponed.
The pay-per-view will now open up with undefeated
heavyweight slugger Gurgen Hovhannisyan stepping in to face
Cesar Navarro in a 10-round showdown at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT,
and also feature the showdown between undefeated top-rated
middleweight Yoenli Hernandez and battle-tested U.S.
Olympian Terrell Gausha.
Exciting young star Elijah Garcia and super middleweight
contender Kevin Newman II will now meet in the main event of
PBC on Prime Video action streaming live and for free on
Prime Video prior to the pay-per-view. The complete lineup
of fights that lead into the pay-per-view will be announced
shortly.
The jam-packed card is topped by WBC Super Welterweight
World Champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora
defending his world title against former unified world
champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in the main event.
The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
**YOENIS TELLEZ VS. BRIAN MENDOZA**
In a battle of former interim champions at 154 pounds,
Cuba’s Yoenis Tellez will look to take down another veteran
opponent in the always dangerous contender Brian Mendoza, as
they go toe-to-toe in super welterweight action.
The 25-year-old Tellez (11-1, 8 KOs) captured the WBA
Interim Title with a March 2025 decision over former world
champion Julian Williams. After dropping a tough decision to
eventual 154-pound world champion Abass Baraou last August,
Tellez most recently got back in the win column with a
December stoppage of Kendo Castaneda. Previously Tellez made
his first big splash in the sport when he stepped in on
short notice in July 2023 to blast out contender Sergio
Garcia and earn a third-round TKO on the Errol Spence Jr.
vs. Terence Crawford undercard. Originally from Santiago de
Cuba, Cuba, Téllez continued to rise in two subsequent bouts
after the Garcia triumph, closing the show in style with a
10th-round TKO of Livan Navarro in December 2023 before
earning a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten
Joseph Jackson in April 2024.
“I respect Brian Mendoza and everything he’s done, but on
March 28 at MGM Grand, I’m coming hungry and ready to seize
this opportunity,” said Tellez. “I’ve worked too hard to let
this moment pass me by. I’m prepared to leave everything in
the ring, because my goal is to get back to that world title
fight, and this is a major step in that direction. The fans
in Las Vegas are going to see the best version of me, and I
plan to put on a show. I’m coming with everything!”
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and now fighting out
of Las Vegas, Mendoza (23-4, 17 KOs) earned the WBC Interim
Title with a highlight-reel knockout of reigning world
champion Sebastian Fundora in April 2023, and still holds
the distinction as the only fighter to best Fundora. He
followed up that win by traveling to Australia to challenge
then WBO 154-pound world champion Tim Tszyu, eventually
losing by decision. After the Tszyu fight, he stepped in on
short notice and dropped a decision to top 154-pounder
Serhii Bohachuk in 2024, before his latest action saw him
stop Jesus Antonio Rojas last July. Led to the ring by
renowned trainer Ismael Salas, the 32-year-old Mendoza had
previously knocked out former unified 154-pound champion
Jeison Rosario in November 2022 and rode a three-fight
winning streak into a decision defeat against now Interim
WBC Middleweight Champion Jesus Ramos Jr. in September 2021.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be back under the bright
lights in Las Vegas on a card like this,” said Mendoza. “A
win here turns everything around and puts me right back
where I belong, with the best in the world at 154 pounds.
I’m hungrier than ever to get back to the top and ready to
knock out whoever gets in my way, starting with Tellez.”
**YOENLI HERNANDEZ VS. TERRELL GAUSHA**
In a 10-round middleweight attraction, one of the 160-pound
division’s fastest-rising stars Yoenli Hernandez will put
his unbeaten record on the line against his toughest
opponent to date, the dangerous U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha,
with the winner in prime position to challenge for
middleweight gold.
Ranked number one by the WBA, number two by the WBC and
number three by the WBO, Hernandez (9-0, 8 KOs) is yet
another in a long line of sensational amateur fighters to
come from the Cuban program, with his long resume before
turning pro featuring a 2021 gold medal at AIBA World Boxing
Championships. Originally from Camaguey, Cuba and now
fighting out of Providence, Rhode Island, Hernandez turned
pro in May 2022 with a pair of stoppage victories and
continued to dominate his competition as he rose up the
rankings. The 28-year-old returned in 2024 with four U.S.
fights, including a stoppage of the veteran contender
Alejandro Barrera in June and a TKO over the previously
unbeaten Bryce Henry in October. Hernandez added three more
victories in 2025, including a shutout unanimous decision
over top contender Kyrone Davis on Prime Video last May.
“I’m extremely grateful for another opportunity to showcase
my talents,” said Hernandez. “But let’s be real, not
everyone has the heart to step in there with me. Respect to
the one who will on March 28. I’m locked in, staying sharp
and I’m coming to make a statement. No shortcuts, no
excuses, just pressure. Stay tuned.”
A member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, Gausha (24-5-1, 12
KOs) was born in Cleveland, Ohio but now fights out of
Encino, California and is trained by the renowned Manny
Robles. Gausha bounced back from an unsuccessful title
challenge of WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames
in 2024 to drop Elijah Garcia in their 2025 showdown,
eventually coming up on the short end of a narrow split
decision. Prior to facing Adames, Gausha had won
back-to-back bouts as he knocked out Brandyn Lynch in March
2023 before winning a decision over KeAndrae Leatherwood in
September of that year. Gausha has faced top competition
throughout his career, having fought former champion Austin
Trout to a draw in 2019 in addition to decision losses
against WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy Lara,
former world champion Tim Tszyu and top contender Erickson
Lubin.
“I’m a true professional who’s always training, because
boxing is what I do,” said Gausha. “I’ve seen Yoenli fight
and he’s a young, strong, skilled fighter. If you’ve watched
my fights in the past, you’ll know that’s what I like. I
want to test myself against the best. Beating him will get
me close to my goal of becoming world champion. That’s what
I’m here for.”
**GURGEN HOVHANNISYAN VS. CESAR NAVARRO**
The undefeated heavyweight Gurgen Hovhannisyan will make his
2026 debut as he continues his ascent up the rankings
against Cesar Navarro, who will look to make it three
straight victories in their 10-round affair.
An Armenian-native now living and training in Los Angeles,
Hovhannisyan (9-0, 8 KOs) has made his rise under the
watchful eye of top trainer Joe Goossen. Now the WBA’s
number 10 ranked heavyweight, Hovhannisyan returns to action
after scoring two victories in 2025. He kicked off the year
with a fifth-round KO of Dajuan Calloway in April before
most recently stopping Chris Thomas in round three in July.
The 28-year-old also owns a stoppage victory over veteran
contender Michael Polite-Coffie.
“I’m ready to show everybody how much I continue to
improve,” said Hovhannisyan. “I’m definitely coming for
another knockout victory. We’ve been grinding and grinding
and it’s time to show the world all that we’ve been working
on.”
The 26-year-old Navarro (15-3, 13 KOs) steps back into the
ring fresh off back-to-back TKO victories, with his most
recent triumph coming last September against Derek Saul
Cardenas Perez. The 26-year-old showed he’s danger for any
opponent last May as he dropped the undefeated contender
Dainier Pero twice before losing a close decision. A pro
since 2017, Navarro was unbeaten in his first eight fights
and has gone the distance in each of his defeats.
“Opportunities like this don’t come around often and I don’t
take it lightly,” said Navarro. “On March 28 in Las Vegas I
get to step into the ring against a tough opponent in Gurgen
Hovhannisyan. It’s a big stage and that’s exactly where I
want to be. I’m proud to represent Phoenix and my Mexican
roots event time I step into the ring. Fighters from where
I’m from know how to grind and fight with heart. On March 28
I’m coming to represent my city, my culture and everyone who
believes in me. Phoenix and Mexico – this is for you.”
|
|
|
