Tsendbaatar Erdenebat, the Mongolian wrecking ball, ramped up his record to a flashy 8-0, with 4 of those wins coming by way of the knockout. On a thrilling Saturday night at Sony Hall, New York City, he steamrolled over Yohan Vasquez, marking his third triumph in this glitzy venue. The climax came at 2:29 of the eighth round – Vasquez was floored, courtesy of a bone-rattling body shot from Erdenebat, unable to rise like a fallen warrior.
Erdenebat, a southpaw with fists that speak louder than words, was a whirlwind in the ring. Darting in and out, he unleashed a barrage of fast, punishing combos. Vasquez, now staring at a 25-5 record (20 KOs), nearly kissed the canvas in the second round but clung on to see it through. Erdenebat, the smart tactician, mercilessly hammered Vasquez’s body, chipping away at his defenses. In the final showdown of the eighth, Erdenebat delivered a vicious left uppercut to the midsection. Vasquez buckled, and a brutal combo sent him down to his knee. The referee, Jamil Antoine, seeing Vasquez in agony and battered from the relentless assault, called it a night right there.
Post-fight, Erdenebat doffed his hat to Lou DiBella for the chance and Boxing Insider for the headline slot on their Holiday Fight Night card. Gratitude poured out for his team and his homeland fans. He entered the ring, confident in outclassing Vasquez in every department, and aimed to prove it early on. Erdenebat was a bit taken aback that the fight dragged to the last round, given the extensive punishment Vasquez absorbed, particularly those body shots.
Looking ahead, Erdenebat is all revved up for his next showdown. With more prep time and a full camp with his new crew, Joe Goossen and Jonathan Walley, in Los Angeles, he’s gunning for an even more jaw-dropping performance.
Lou DiBella, the big boss of DiBella Entertainment, didn’t hold back his praise. He touted Erdenebat as a force to be reckoned with in the 130-135 pound division. Despite the drama of not making weight and parting with a chunk of his purse, Erdenebat still shone in the ring. DiBella sees a bright future for the ‘Mongolian Mole,’ provided he hones his discipline.
Erdenebat’s backstory is as gripping as his fights. Raised in the vast steppes of Mongolia, living the nomadic life, herding horses and livestock – this is where he forged his celebrated strength. A two-time Olympian, with a glittering amateur record of 147-41, Erdenebat has snagged 11 Mongolian National titles, a couple of golds at the AIBA Asian Championships, top honors at the 2018 Asian Games, and a bronze at the 2019 AIBA World Championships.