LAS VEGAS – Yoenis Tellez can feel the stereotypes of Cuban boxers twisting in his favor, and Saturday’s pay-per-view co-main event is the ideal spot to fulfill his opportunity.

With champion Sebastian Fundora defending his WBC 154lbs belt versus Keith Thurman in the Prime Video/PPV.COM main event at MGM Grand, Tellez, 11-1 (8 KOs), has the chance to defeat Brian Mendoza, 23-4 (17 KOs), the only man who’s ever defeated Fundora.

That would clearly thrust Tellez into prime position in pursuit of the champion.

“It’s true. It’s important. A lot of people will be watching me and they’ll value how I do,” Tellez told BoxingScene. “All the fights are important for me, but this one brings me to the place I really want to be.”

Instead of being tucked away following his unanimous-decision August loss to Abass Baraou in what was effectively a fight for the WBA title, Tellez, 25, came back to notch a victory in December, and was then promoted into this spot.

“Us Cubans have a little more difficult time getting these types of fights,” he said in reference to the complex and not always fan-friendly style of his countrymen.

Since he’s property of Fundora’s promoter, Premier Boxing Champions, Tellez – still rated No. 5 by the WBA – has this night to redeem himself and declare he’s ready for another title shot.

“I am capable. I belong with the elites. This guy knocked out Fundora. Beating him will put me right there,” Tellez said.

“That’s why we’re here. So they can see us and give us the opportunity to fight for a world title.”

Doing so will require providing thrills, letting his hands go and engaging in action that the prior generations from Cuba were reluctant to showcase, to the detriment of their drawing power.

But now, fighters like Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz Jnr and David Morrell have flipped the narrative.

“I do believe we are undergoing a new phase and that is the responsibility of this new generation,” Tellez said. “Yes, the great generations of boxers from Cuba set the example of being defensive. We’re putting a new touch on that style to accommodate excitement in our fights.”

Tellez’s friend and countrymen, middleweight Yoenli Hernandez, 9-0 (8 KOs), is also part of that re-branding, and he’s on the pay-per-view spot just before Tellez, meeting game veteran Terrell Gausha, 24-5-1 (12 KOs) Saturday.

Hernandez is the WBA’s top-ranked middleweight to another Cuban, PBC’s Erislandy Lara, and he’s No. 4 in the WBC to Carlos Adames, who announced after last week’s successful title defense that he’s moving up to super-middleweight.

Hernandez, 28, fought three times last year, winning two bouts by knockout.

The pay-per-view opener is a heavyweight clash pitting Joe Goossen-trained Gurgen Hovhannisyan, 9-0 (8 KOs), versus Phoenix’s Cesar Navarro, 15-3 (13 KOs).

In the PBC free stream, Phoenix super-middleweight Elijah Garcia, 17-1 (13 KOs), has a pivotal date versus Kevin Newman, 18-3-1 (11 KOs), in his effort to reconnect with his former position as a bona-fide contender.

The card’s promoter, Tom Brown, is especially excited about sending PBC prospects Brayan Gonzalez, 4-0 (3 KOs), a featherweight, and Kaipo Gallegos, 11-0-1 (9 KOs), a lightweight, into action.

PBC has been ridiculed by Zuffa Boxing head Dana White for dragging its feet to its first pay-per-view this year, but Brown insists the storyline imposed by others is not valid, and that the promise of Phoenix’s Gonzalez and Las Vegas’ Gallegos represents a counter-punch to the allegation.