From Boxing Ring to Courtroom, Meet the Law Student Who Can Knock Out His Opponents

Attorneys throw legal punches to score points in the courtroom, and boxers throw physical punches to score knockouts in the ring. But what if one person could do both?

Meet Noe Mendoza Jr., a second-year student at UNT Dallas College Law and three-time National Collegiate Boxing champion. “It’s a lifestyle,” said Mendoza, referring to both boxing and practicing law.

Those passions require extreme focus, intense determination and relentless training. Mendoza aims to transfer his success from the boxing ring to the court of law. UNT Dallas College of Law is his bridge.

He says there are several parallels between sports and academics:

• Discipline. Winning requires it.
• Preparation. Setting yourself up for success through planning and practice.
• Focus. It’s you against your opponent. Whether it’s a boxing match or a legal battle.

Mendoza, 30, grew up in Weslaco, TX. As the son of immigrant parents who labored in farm fields as children and later started a business, Mendoza developed a strong work ethic. “My father’s advice to me was to get an education because working the fields taught him exactly what he did NOT want to do for the remainder of his life,” said Mendoza. “I have seen how hard he’s worked to build a sustainable business model for his company, which has certainly inspired me to advance our family’s legacy.”

Mendoza’s father was an amateur boxer in Mexico and the U.S. but didn’t force the sport on his son. “He said, ‘If you want, I’ll take you to the ring’,” Mendoza recalled. At the age of 8, he was hooked. They practiced in a makeshift gym under their home's carport as Mendoza Jr. sharpened his skills.

When he was 10, Mendoza took a break from boxing to play other sports, including football, basketball, wrestling and tennis. By his senior year in high school, boxing had called him back. “I won the regional Golden Gloves tournament, which reinvigorated my competitive passion for boxing.”

While earning his undergraduate degree in philosophy with a pre-law concentration at Texas A&M University, Mendoza discovered the university competed in karate, judo and taekwondo, but not boxing. He filled the void by founding Texas A&M Boxing, and soon, the team was performing well at the national level.

Success breeds success. When Mendoza became a graduate student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), seeking a master’s in communication and data analytics, he repeated what he had accomplished as an Aggie. He started Club Boxing, which quickly gained popularity and began competing nationally, too.

Starting not one but two university boxing organizations “created a sense of purpose for me,” Mendoza explained. “What was most satisfying was the leadership skills developed through our succession planning to ensure our club’s growth and continuity.”

When he captured his third national title in May 2024, Mendoza became the first law student to win the tournament among hundreds of athletes from dozens of colleges and universities. Despite the accomplishment, he told friends, family, fans, and fellow boxers, “Now, I must hang up the gloves and focus on taking action inside courtrooms.”

Following the victory and his first year in law school, Mendoza worked as a summer intern at Guerrero Law Offices, a Dallas law firm. He handled personal injury claims against insurance companies and conducted legal research for the firm’s owner, Roxane Guerrero. It was a rewarding experience. “Roxane was a great resource for helping me think like a lawyer,” said Mendoza. 

He was a resource for her, too, going as far as reconstructing an accident by visiting the crash scene, taking photos and videos, and reimagining how it happened using visual documentation. “I’m glad I helped the client,” Mendoza said modestly.

Back home in Weslaco, on a short break between his summer internship and the start of fall 2024 classes, Mendoza was honored at City Hall and was awarded a $2,000 scholarship for his achievements and goodwill toward the city, especially children. He is known for giving free boxing lessons to kids who get good grades.

During the upcoming Fall semester, Mendoza will intern with Fighters First Management under Dallas native Adrian Clark, who has helped reform professional boxing by educating athletes about their rights and remedies. Mendoza plans to specialize in sports and entertainment law and expects the internship to deepen his knowledge of that legal niche. “I want to educate them so they know who they’re paying and what they’re worth,” he said.

Mendoza understands and relates to athletes because he's been in their shoes. He wants to guide them on the road to success and help them and their teams build their brands. “One of my goals is to make law accessible,” Mendoza said, which is an important part of UNT Dallas College of Law’s mission and commitment to community service.

Mendoza was elected secretary of the Hispanic Law Students Association (HSLA) and appointed treasurer of the Sports and Entertainment Law Student Association (SESLA). He will also serve as a graduate teaching assistant, supporting academic success, healthy personal development, and ethical and professional formation of law students.

Between courses, extracurriculars, and an internship, he’ll be balancing a lot in his second year. “Time management is the biggest challenge. I’ve learned how special time is, he said. “Boxing took me away from the books. In the second year of law school, I’ll be even more focused and driven.”

Next summer, he hopes to land an internship at a professional sports team “so I can learn the commercialized side of the sport.”

Mendoza is grateful for the many opportunities to learn and serve. He’s glad he’s here. When it came to choosing a law school, Mendoza had several options. He applied and was accepted to four: Thurgood Marshall, Texas Tech University, South Texas College and UNT Dallas. “This is a sports city,” Mendoza said, referring to the benefit of selecting a law school with numerous teams and activities at every level.

VIDEO: Watch a 2018 Story About Noe Mendoza When He Boxed While Attending UTRGV 

Back home in Weslaco, Mendoza’s family proudly watches from afar as he navigates the challenges and opportunities of law school and life in Dallas. “My father lives vicariously through me,” he said with a smile.

And when Mendoza needs to relieve some stress or burn some calories, you might find him in a familiar place: The Dallas Fight Club, an authentic neighborhood boxing gym that takes him back to his roots and pushes him forward to achieve his dreams.