Argenis Mendez

by @Gibbosboxing

On Saturday July 21 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The Dominican prospect Argenis Mendez 19-2-0 (10 KO's)will face Mexican Martin Honorio 32-7-1 (16 KO's) in an elimination bout to determine who will earn the right to challenge title holder Juan Carlos Salgado before the end of 2012.

Mendez and Honorio have met before in 2010 at the Home Depot Centre, California, a 12-round bout for the USBA title. In that fight, Mendez won by majority decision 114-114, 116-112 and 116-112.

Furthermore, both fighters have faced Salgado in the past with both losing out by the narrowest of margins.

Mendez is currently training in Florida with British trainer Lee Beard, logistics and visa issues have meant that it was not always possible for Mendez and Beard to work with each other but things have worked out this time and they are confident going into this world title eliminator.

Speaking to Livefight.com Beard said "Argenis is one of the most talented kids I have worked with and I am glad that we were able to team up again for this fight. When we went to Mexico to face Salgado for the title we lost by the narrowest of margins and to be honest I felt that we should have won the fight and would have if Argenis had of picked his work rate up over the first few rounds. He is such a talented defensive fighter that at times he can be in control of a fight but the judges don't always appreciate the defence and look to score based on offence instead. So for this fight he wont make the same mistakes"

"Argenis now knows what he has to do, he has a fantastic amateur background and has already beaten Honorio before so he goes into this fight full of confidence and more importantly, full of experience. That is not to say that we are taking Honorio lightly because he is a good solid fighter and we need to have everything in place to beat him. We have been working on every aspect of our game plan and if Argenis sticks to it then he will win this fight."

In addition to the title eliminator we see the return of undefeated former world champion Joan Guzman 32-0-1 (19 KO's) and the exciting and talented Ed Paredes 30-3-1 (20 KO's).

Guzman is fully recovered from surgery on his right hand after breaking it in his last fight against Jesus Pabon, whilst Paredes, returns after medical issues prevented him from participating in the last promotion.