Sergio Mendoza upsets Ricardo Sandoval to claim unified flyweight titles

Sergio “Yoreme” Mendoza secured a major upset victory by defeating Ricardo Sandoval via fifth-round TKO at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. With this win, Mendoza claimed the unified WBA and WBC flyweight titles.

Mendoza, a late replacement in the bout, improved his professional record to 28-1 with 24 knockouts. Despite being knocked down in the second round by a right hook from Sandoval, Mendoza recovered to drop the defending champion three times throughout the fight. The referee intervened in the fifth round to stop the contest.

Sandoval, who entered the fight looking to defend the belts he won in July 2025, fell to a record of 27-3. The loss marks a significant setback for Sandoval, who had been inactive for over a year prior to this defense. Mendoza attributed his success to competing at his natural weight of 112 pounds.