Argenis Mendez: record, next fight and profile →
Argenis Mendez and Rances Barthelemy both made weight for their 130 lb. title fight, which takes place Friday at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mendez came in at a trim and ready 128.5 lb, while Barthelemy tipped the scales at a lean 129 lb. Their scheduled 12-round affair headlines the 2014 season premiere of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.
Argenis "La Tormenta" Mendez is already in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and heading out to the gym this afternoon. He was accompanied by his trainer John David Jackson, his strength conditioner Axel Murillo, and his manager Jose Nunez . They will conclude the final details on Thursday at 5:00 PM at the official weigh-in for the Mendez's second IBF world title defense against the Cuban Rances Barthelemy at the Target Center.
Argenis Mendez is fully focused on his next title defense, which comes Friday against mandatory challenger Rances Barthelemy at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The bout serves as the 2014 season premiere of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Even with all of his mental energy locked in on this weekend's challenge, it's impossible to not think ahead given all of the talent and activity in the 130 lb. division. New Year's Eve in Japan saw Takashi Uchiyama and Takashi Miura defend their belts in separate bouts in Tokyo, paving the way for a potential rematch and unification bout at some point in 2014. Stateside, unbeaten Miguel Angel 'Mikey' Garcia defends his belt against Juan Carlos Burgos on January 25 in New York City. Mendez is cognizant of the challenge immediately in front of him, viewing this weekend's bout as a must-win in order to pave the way for what he insists will be the biggest year of his career. "I want to congratulate (Uchiyama and Miura) on their wins today," Mendez said earlier Tuesday afternoon after learning of his divisional rivals' accomplishments. "I'd love to fight both of them at some point and add their belts to my collection. If they fight each other, then I will put myself in position to get the winner. "Mikey Garcia is also on the radar as well. I've been thinking about nothing other than taking care of business (on Friday) with Barthelemy. Once that fight is over and I defend my title, all of the other champions are on alert for 2014."
IBF super featherweight champion Argenis Mendez (21-2-1, 11KOs) went to war during a sparring session with undefeated junior welterweight puncher Maurice Hooker (12-0-1, 9KOs). Mendez is holding camp at the Iron Mike Productions Gym in Deerfield, Florida. He returns on January 3rd in a mandatory title defense against undefeated challenger Rances Barthelemy (19-0, 12KOs) of Cuba. ESPN's Friday Night Fights will televise the contest.
DEERFIELD, Fla. - International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Lightweight World Champion Argenis "La Tormenta" Mendez (21-2-1, 11 KOs) has vowed not to leave the outcome of his January 3 title defense against No. 1 mandatory challenger Rances "Kid Blast" Barthelemy (19-0, 12 KOs), airing live on the 2014 ESPN Friday Night Fights season opener, in the hands of the judges.
IBF super featherweight champion Argenis Mendez (21-2-1, 11KOs) is working hard at the Iron Mike Productions Gym in Deerfield, Florida. On January 3rd at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Mendez will make a mandatory defense of his championship against mandatory challenger Rances Barthelemy (19-0, 12KOs). Their showdown will be televised as the season opening main event attraction for ESPN's Friday Night Fights.
IBF super featherweight champion Argenis Mendez discuss his upcoming fight with undefeated mandatory challenger Rances Bathelemy, his training camp for the match, which takes place on January 3rd at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ESPN will televise the match as part of their 2014 debut season.
(IBF), Argenis "La Tormenta" Mendez (21-2-1, 11 KOs), says the only fight that will keep him at 130 pounds, would be a unification fight against Miguel "Mikey" Garcia (33-0, 28 KOs), the world champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO). On January 3 in Minneapolis, Mendez will defend his IBF crown against mandatory challenger Rances Barthelemy. For the last four weeks, Mendez has been training in Florida at the Iron Mike Productions gym with his coaches John David Jackson, Derik Santos and physical conditioning Axel Murillo.
The 2014 season opener of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” will have a 130-pound title fight between Argenis Mendez and Rances Barthelemy in the main event, supported by a co-feature bout pitting middleweight Caleb Truax against Derek Ennis. The card will take place Jan. 3 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, according to a person involved with the card, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as the show has not yet been officially announced.
Argenis Mendez, the IBF's super featherweight world champion, is in training for his next defense against the mandatory contender Rances Barthelemy of Cuba. Mendez is training with coach John David Jackson at the Iron Mike Productions gym in Deerfield Beach, Florida. "We started training on Monday November 4th, and plan to be in the gym about 8 weeks for this training camp to be in great shape for this fight in January 2014," said Mendez