Mendoza Takes Right Path to Championship

Panama’s Tito Mendoza landed two big overhand rights to Dwain Williams’ jaw Monday night at the Arrowhead Pond. The second one knocked out Williams in the fifth round and landed Mendoza the vacant North American Boxing Organization’s welterweight title.

Mendoza (15-2, 13 knockouts) was the underdog, but he had a three-inch size advantage and a substantial reach advantage. Williams (15-3, 11 knockouts) had won his last five fights and he won the first two rounds with an inside attack that negated Mendoza’s reach advantage.

But early in the third round, Mendoza caught Williams flush in the face with a vicious right hand. Williams was wobbly, but he survived the next 2 1/2 minutes by holding on. Seconds after the bell rang ending the third round, Williams dropped Mendoza with a left hook, but referee Marty Denkin ruled the punch came late and penalized Williams two points.

Mendoza finished off Williams 2 minutes 9 seconds into the fifth round with a crushing right hand that sent Williams into the ropes and then flat on his face. Denkin stopped the bout before Williams tried to get up.

Williams, 20, and Mendoza were fighting for the title vacated by San Diego’s Rodney Jones.