ROAD WARRIOR Abel Mendoza has been been building a record that matches the great Floyd Mayweather – but it almost cost him his life.
Mendoza’s undefeated 42-0 record has been flying under the radar thanks to bouts in Mexico, South America, Jamaica and even South Korea.
INSTAGRAM @iamkingabelAbel Mendoza is the 42-0 boxer[/caption]
INSTAGRAM @iamkingabelHe is close to breaking Floyd Mayweather’s 50-0 record[/caption]
INSTAGRAM @iamkingabelHis career has been going under the radar[/caption]
But it was after his last win in December – a win over Yonnaiquer Rondon in Colombia – that he was left staring death in the face.
Mendoza was kidnapped in the back of a taxi alongside his friend and faced a fight to survive.
Recalling the harrowing experience, he told SunSport: “I thought we were gonna die.
“I thought they were gonna take us, hold us for ransom. At that moment I thought, man, I was disappointed.
“And in that moment I thought to myself – that’s when it just kind of hit me like – no I can’t die like this. I’m not gonna die.”
Before turning professional in 2016 in Texas, Mendoza says he had close to 300 amateur bouts.
He even beat Lamont Roach – who most believed was robbed of victory against superstar lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
Mendoza said: “I thought he beat Tank and I knew Lamont was gonna be a a hard fight for Tank, but a lot of people didn’t believe it.”
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The 29-year-old is managed by brothers Scott and David Tetreault – who have taken his boxing career around the globe.
But still Mendoza is without his big break, despite a shiny record to defend.
He said: “I haven’t been working with anybody or no other fighters wants to take a chance. They see my record, maybe they’re intimidated.
“But I would have thought it would be the other way like, ‘Oh, he’s 42-0. Let me take his unbeaten record.’ But it’s not like that.”
Mendoza took his career on the road in a bid to build his record, fighting largely in Mexico and up to EIGHT times a year.
But six of his last eight have been in Colombia – with the most recent sparking his horror kidnapping ordeal.
Mendoza claims he hailed down a cab after his Uber app stopped working – before a group of thugs robbed the boxer and his friend.
He said: “Two guys get into the back and one of them had a screwdriver, the other one had a knife.
“The driver, he turns around, he’s like, ‘Shut up, shut up, don’t talk.’ And I’m just in shock. I just couldn’t believe it.
“And then they keep driving. I kept telling him like, ‘Hey man, let me go. You can take all my things here.’
INSTAGRAM @iamkingabelMendoza has fought all around the world[/caption]
INSTAGRAM @iamkingabelMendoza poses with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao[/caption]
INSTAGRAM @iamkingabelHere he is rubbing shoulders with UFC boss Dana White[/caption]
“They just kept telling me to shut up. They hit me, I gave him my phone, gave him everything and all the money that I had.”
Mendoza spotted an ambulance – first mistaking it for a police car – when he decided to fight his way out.
He said: “I look at my friend and I’m like, ‘Right now’ because they don’t know English.
“So I’m like, ‘Hey, right now.’ And my friend’s like, ‘All right.’ So I punched the guy and I opened the door.
“My friend kicks the seat and he grabs the guy – because you could tell they weren’t fighters – and I opened the door and jumped out and my friend did the same thing.
“He grabbed him and he took the knife and he jumped out too and we ran to a gas station.”
Despite the terrifying ordeal, Mendoza is still not put off boxing away from home.
He said: “I’m not afraid. I’ve been to Korea, I’ve been to Mexico a lot, even in New Mexico. I probably won’t go back to Colombia.
“I mean, I’ll go anywhere, it’s what I’ve always done.”
No I can’t die like this. I’m not gonna die
Abel Mendoza
Mendoza improved to 42 wins before the kidnap attempt – moving ever closer to Mayweather’s record-breaking 50-0.
But Mendoza insists: “The goal has always been trying to win belts.
“I wanna become a world champion and I really don’t care about getting to 50-0. I have a lot of fights because I like to fight.
“I love to fight. I have a lot of fights, I would rather take a fight than stay inactive and that’s why I have a lot of fights.
“The goal is not to get to 50-0, the goal is to become a world champion.
“If I get to 50-0 while that happens, it happens but I’m just trying to become a world champion.”
Mendoza thought his big break was coming in February when Floyd Schofield pulled out of fighting WBC champ Shakur Stevenson.
The Texan was ready to travel 8,000 miles to Riyadh to replace Schofield – but Britain’s Josh Padley was just a seven-hour flight away.
INSTAGRAM @iamkingabelAbel Mendoza snapped with Jake Paul[/caption]
Brave Padley was beaten in nine rounds as Mendoza said: “My team reached out to them and they were trying to make it happen.
“But I guess somebody from the UK was closer so they found him and he was there. It happens.”
Mendoza has also called out 11-1 YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul – despite their FIVE STONE weight difference.
But he said: “I just put it out there that I’d fight Jake. I actually think Jake’s a decent fighter, so that was one of the reasons why I put that out there.
“I don’t know if he’s at the elite level. I think that’s whatwe’re all waiting to see… if if he’s at the elite level.
“But from what I’ve seen, he looks pretty decent.”
Mendoza is now just waiting for his big opportunity – warning boxing bigwigs he is open for business.
He said: “I’m ready to fight, I wanna fight the best so I can prove myself that I am the best. I’m a free agent, so that’s a good thing.
“I’m able to work with whoever right now and there are a few promoters interested.
“But I’m just trying to be patient and just waiting to see what happens.”
INSTAGRAM @iamkingabelMendoza is ready for the big time[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
