Ricardo Sandoval’s first defense of his unified flyweight titles ended in disaster as Sergio Mendoza Cordova dropped him three times and forced a fifth-round stoppage Saturday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Mendoza (28-1, 24 KOs) took the WBA and WBC belts from Sandoval (27-3, 18 KOs), turning a late replacement appearance into a career-changing victory. Sandoval was supposed to get through this fight and move toward bigger opportunities. Instead, he left with his title plans torn apart.

The warning about Mendoza was there in his record: 23 stoppages from 27 victories entering the fight. His second-round knockout loss to Thanongsak Simsri in April made him look vulnerable, but it did not erase the danger in his punching.

Sandoval had his own success, knocking Mendoza down with a right hook in the second round. That should have given the champion something to build on. Mendoza recovered, however, and Sandoval could not prevent the southpaw from taking over with pressure and heavy shots.

Three knockdowns told the story. This was no narrow defeat that Sandoval could dispute afterward, and the referee’s intervention in the fifth prevented him from taking further punishment.

The loss also changes how Sandoval’s lengthy absence looks. After beating Kenshiro Teraji by split decision in Japan in July 2025, he spent more than a year outside the ring before defending his belts. Whatever the reasons for that delay, his return offered none of the momentum he needed.

Winning two titles had put Sandoval in position to pursue bigger fights. Losing both in his first defense leaves him needing to rebuild, without the championship status that helped make those fights possible.

Mendoza deserves the credit for refusing to let his own knockdown decide the contest. He arrived as an underdog making his U.S. debut, absorbed an early setback and kept attacking. Sandoval had the plans, but Mendoza had the punches to wreck them.

Cruiserweight Tristan Kalkreuth handed Ivan Rosado his first professional loss in dominant fashion, ending things just 44 seconds into the third round.

From the opening bell of the scheduled ten-rounder, Kalkreuth used his superior height and reach to keep Rosado on the back foot. Rosado never found room to mount an offense as Kalkreuth poured on the pressure, eventually burying his shorter opponent under a heavy offensive barrage.

While Rosado stayed on his feet, he could no longer offer enough defense to satisfy the referee, who stepped in to rescue him and seal a complete blowout victory for the cruiserweight prospect.

Joshua Edwards (8-0, 7 KOs) beat Craig Lewis (15-10-1, 8 KOs) by stoppage when the veteran could not continue at the start of round three in their heavyweight clash. Edwards dictated the action before hurting Lewis with a combination near the end of the second.

Lewis’s injury prevented him from continuing, ending the scheduled eight-round contest after two completed rounds. The 42-year-old Lewis offered little to disrupt the younger fighter’s control. Edwards, a 2024 U.S. Olympian, collected another early finish as he continued his professional run.

Light middleweight Grant Flores (14-0, 10 KOs) stopped Mikey Dahlman (19-3, 17 KOs) in round two of their scheduled eight-round fight. Flores applied pressure early, using his size and power to dictate the action.

A heavy left hook to the liver left Dahlman hurt in the second. Flores immediately followed with a sustained attack, giving Dahlman little opportunity to recover. The referee intervened as the punches continued, ending the fight with Dahlman unable to contain Flores’ assault.

Minimumweight Naomy Valle (16-1, 9 KOs) beat Sheyla Moreno Castillo (5-2-1) by unanimous decision after eight rounds in her professional U.S. debut. The scores were 78-73, 78-72, and 77-74. Valle established her lead with accurate jabs and right hands, including a right in the third that hurt Moreno.

Moreno continued pressing forward and made the closing rounds scrappy, while Valle drew repeated warnings for holding. A point deduction in the eighth failed to undo Valle’s earlier work, leaving her a clear winner on all three cards.

Floyd Schofield faces Lucas Bahdi tonight, October 10, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The DAZN broadcast starts at 8 p.m. ET, with Boxing News 24 providing live results throughout the card.

Both fighters passed today’s second-day weight check, Chris Mannix reported. Schofield came in at 143 pounds and Bahdi at 142.8 pounds, ending the uncertainty over whether their main event would proceed following Friday’s weight-limit dispute.

The undercard features Ricardo Sandoval against Sergio Mendoza, Jahmal Harvey against Pedro Castaneda and Jan Paul Rivera against Abraham Perfecto Valdez.

Schofield vs Bahdi: Full Card, Weights and DAZN Fight Times

Main Card

Floyd Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs) vs Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs)

The pair contest the vacant WBA lightweight belt over 12 rounds. Schofield hit 135 lbs (61.2 kg) on the scales, with Bahdi at 134 lbs (60.8 kg).

Expected ring walks: 10:35 p.m. ET / 7:35 p.m. PT / 3:35 a.m. BST Sunday.

Ricardo Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) vs Sergio Mendoza (27-1, 23 KOs)

Two flyweight belts are at stake in this 12-round WBA and WBC title fight. Sandoval registered 111.6 lbs (50.6 kg); Mendoza came in at 111.4 lbs (50.5 kg).

Estimated start: 9:35 p.m. ET / 6:35 p.m. PT / 2:35 a.m. BST Sunday.

Jahmal Harvey (4-0, 3 KOs) vs. Pedro Castañeda (9-1-1, 5 KOs)

Harvey meets Castañeda over eight rounds at lightweight. They tipped the scales at 134.2 lbs (60.9 kg) and 135 lbs (61.2 kg), respectively.

Estimated start: 8:55 p.m. ET / 5:55 p.m. PT / 1:55 a.m. BST Sunday.

Jan Paul Rivera (16-0, 7 KOs) vs. Abraham Perfecto (14-2, 9 KOs)

Rivera and Perfecto open the main card in a 10-round lightweight contest. Rivera registered 130.2 lbs (59.1 kg), while Perfecto checked in at 131.4 lbs (59.6 kg).

Opening bout: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT / 1 a.m. BST Sunday.

Preliminary Card

Tristan Kalkreuth (17-1, 12 KOs) vs Ivan Rosado (12-0, 9 KOs)

Scheduled for 10 rounds at cruiserweight. Kalkreuth came in at 199.2 lbs (90.4 kg), compared with Rosado’s 194.6 lbs (88.3 kg).

Asa Stevens (7-0-1, 2 KOs) vs Cristian Williams (14-0, 8 KOs)

Stevens takes on Williams in an eight-round super featherweight bout. Stevens registered 127.8 lbs (58.0 kg); Williams hit 125.6 lbs (57.0 kg).