Abel Mendoza’s undefeated streak will resume on May 16, and the fight against Javier Rodriguez will lead the Texan to 44-0.

The number is rising – the credibility is not.

On paper, the trajectory is clear and he is on track to have one of the most vital resumes in sports. But the deeper into the rabbit hole Mendoza goes, the more questions this recording begins to raise.

Mendoza is seven fights shy of Floyd Mayweather’s 50-0 mark that defined the perfect newfangled boxing record.

However, as has been the case throughout his career, the details of this unique character tell a more complicated story.

World Boxing News has previously documented discrepancies in Mendoza’s record as fights were reviewed and added over time, including Colombia’s July 2025 result that officially moved him to 43-0.

The figure is now standing after being briefly removed, but tracking its depth has been with him the entire time.

Record vs reality

After signing a recent endorsement deal, Mendoza promised to step up. It must be admitted that Rodriguez is unique compared to some of the events he has attended in Colombia.

Premier Boxing Champions saw enough in Mendoza to bring him onto their roster. He was expected to make a evident leap in class, not just a marginal one.

When a boxer partners with PBC and Al Haymon, one of the top promoters in the United States, and then promises tougher tests, it’s difficult to consider this the Texan’s 44th fight.

Over the past few months, Mendoza has been calling out Isaac Cruz and targeting fights with Ryan Garcia and Rolando Romero. The expectations were clear – but that’s not it.

But when it comes to naming opponents, it’s the same consistent story for Mendoza. Therefore, this latest venture does not provide the expected progress.

Score 43-0

Exceeding Terence Crawford’s 43-0 mark, which Mendoza achieved last year and can better next month at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, should have come with some sort of warning label.

The number itself has significance when compared to when Crawford retired, but context shows how much it actually means in the frigid lithe of day.

Crawford’s tally to 43-0 came against elite competition in multiple weight classes, which resulted in an undisputed success. In contrast, Mendoza’s track was built on activity and volume, often against the backdrop of padded slab opposition.

Several opponents came into this heat with lost records or constrained experience, which reinforced this pattern.

This vulnerability largely explains the reaction to the latest adversary.

The enemy is under the microscope

As it turns out, Rodriguez, who ironically shares the same “Pitbull” name as Cruz, arrives in impoverished shape after struggling through a six-year career that stalled in 2017.

He returned seven years later but failed to impress, and Mendoza would be only his third fight in nine years.

Rodriguez enters with a 17-3-3 record, but his inactivity and lack of progress leave grave questions about what he brings to the competition.

Less like a Pitbull and more like a Miniature Bull Terrier when it comes to its place in the grand scheme of the sport.

Finishes 50-0

Mendoza is getting closer to Mayweather’s 50-0 mark, but without the kind of decisive fights that gave the record any significance.

Previous WBN analysis has already shown how threats to Mayweather’s benchmark have come and gone, with fighters like Jaime Munguia and Gilberto Ramirez underperforming in the promotions and others failing to maintain the activity required to reach that number.

Mendoza is now in a different category – one where records continue to climb but questions remain.

Going 44-0 keeps him on track mathematically. Credibility is still not satisfactory.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

Bradley said experience could prove to be a factor as Boots did not spend enough time in the final innings.

There is definitely some truth to the notion that we haven’t seen Ennis in a fight to the death, but there is also the risk of punishing a fighter for being too dominant.

“Yeah, I think experience might be a factor here, but I mean Boots isn’t used to going 12 rounds. Boots isn’t used to going 12 rounds either. He usually knocks these guys out before he goes 12 rounds,” Bradley told YSM Sports Media.

Bradley is right that Ennis didn’t spend a lot of time overdue in rounds, but that’s mostly because his shot selection and pocket awareness are so high that opponents tend to crack before they can test his engine.

While we didn’t see Ennis lose any strength, we also didn’t see him be the least bit winded or depressed. “An unanswered question” is not necessarily a sign of weakness; there is simply a lack of data because it was so effective.

Bradley also questioned the level of opposition Boots has faced, saying there is little material in the reports to provide evidence of elite level.

“When you look at the competition he faced, nothing jumped out as crazy.”

This matters because Ennis is moving to a stronger division where size, pace and resistance are more tough than at welterweight. Xander is younger, naturally bigger and at 154 years venerable he has already won titles.

Bradley still thinks Boots has a higher ceiling. He called him “extremely talented” and said he expected Ennis to come in and want to make a statement.

“I’ve got Boots. I just think he’s incredibly talented,” Tim said.

One thing that often gets overlooked in the 12-round experience debate is Ennis’ extensive amateur experience. While professional rounds are different, elite amateurs are accustomed to high-intensity, high-pressure environments. To most observers, Ennis doesn’t strike me as a fighter who panics, which usually causes a fighter to burn through his gas tank in the overdue rounds.

Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney are reportedly in talks for an all-American superfight.

Stevenson scored the biggest victory of his career this year, moving up to super lightweight to defeat Teofimo Lopez to become a four-division world champion.

Haney won titles in three weight classes and was undisputed at lightweight. Most recently he defeated Brian Norman Jr. for the WBO welterweight world title.

Both men have impressed in their recent wins and are widely considered two of the most technically elite fighters in the sport today. A fight between the two has been discussed for a long time, and The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that it could now become a reality if one key hurdle can be overcome – an agreed weight limit.

Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson are in preliminary talks to fight @MikeCoppinger revealed on @InsideRingShow.

Weight agreements are currently holding up discussions.#InsideTheRing | The latest episode available on DAZN 📺 pic.twitter.com/eb1fG2269a

— InsideRingShow (@InsideRingShow) April 27, 2026

This problem is not effortless to solve and may prove too stern for negotiations to overcome. Haney said he felt best at welterweight and looked exhausted at super lightweight. Stevenson argues that his opponent faced Jose Ramirez at the 144-pound catchweight last year and could do the same again. While Haney handled the weight well and performed well on the night, there is no doubt he would have been at a disadvantage.

Stevenson, however, argued that he is still a natural lightweight – even though he looks comfortable against Lopez at 140 pounds – and that a meeting under the welterweight limit creates a more even playing field.

Time will tell whether this can be agreed behind the scenes. A significant amount could assist move things forward, but given their undefeated records, pound-for-pound status and position as the face of American boxing, both Stevenson and Haney will be cautious in making decisions.