By Jake Donovan
The phrase “anyone, any place, any time” will soon be put to the test for Argenis Mendez.
The super featherweight contender – a former amateur standout and 2004 Dominican Olympic boxer now based out of Brooklyn – is one fight away from realizing his goal of fighting for a major title.
However, in order to get to a shot at the title, he might have to travel to South Africa – twice.
In order to earn a shot at current titlist Mzonke Fana, Mendez (17-1, 9KO) will have to go through another South African fighter to reach that point. The IBF recently ordered a title eliminator between Mendez and former titlist Cassius Baloyi, with the winner to be named as their mandatory challenger.
A two-week negotiations period was granted on October 7, with the sanctioning body to order a purse bid if the two sides could not come to terms. While an agreement has yet to be reached, both sides agreed to have the purse bid waived and work towards finalizing a deal for a fight that would take place either late in 2010 or in the first quarter of 2011.
Mendez and his handlers are still awaiting a financial offer they deem acceptable before traveling 18 hours for what would be the biggest fight of his young career. Whom he has to face is of little to no concern to the rising Dominican, and while a king’s ransom isn’t expected or being asked for, proper compensation for such a fight and trip is in order.
Once the two sides are able to come to terms, Mendez will rightly treat the fight as the biggest of his career, knowing that a win puts him in line for an even greater opportunity.
“I want to thank the IBF for giving me the opportunity to fight for the eliminator bout against Baloyi,” Mendez said of the possible fight. “I know this will be my toughest test for me but I am ready and I hope Baloyi is ready for what coming.”
The fight is a huge step up in class for Mendez, 24, but perhaps comes at the perfect point in his career. He has won five straight since suffering the lone loss of his career two years ago. Included among the streak was a career-best win over Martin Honorio, taking a majority decision over the former title challenger earlier this year.
Whenever the fight takes place, it will be Mendez’ first since an eight round tune-up win over Shamir Reyes this past July, shortly after the aforementioned win over Honorio.
A win for Mendez would provide the IBF 130 lb. title picture with a fresh face. No other major belt in the sport has been passed around as often in recent years than this particular strap, which has changed hands 13 times in the past decade.
Included among the baker’s dozen are a trio of South Africans who have each enjoyed two tours as champ. Mzonke Fana recently reclaimed the vacant belt in September after taking a wide decision win in a rematch with Baloyi, whose second reign came on the strength of a split decision win over his countryman in 2008.
Baloyi, Fana and Malcolm Klassen (whom knocked out Baloyi to win the crown in April 2009) have managed to secure title shots and elimination bouts du jour over the past several years, which has all but kept the belt captive in South Africa for the better part of the past four years.
Because Mendez is not yet a lucrative enough draw, he is forced to travel abroad in order to seize his opportunities. It’s a reality that his handlers readily acknowledge, though their only concern for their moment being the possibility of having to travel to South Africa for back-to-back fights in order to vie for a championship.
Still, if that’s what it takes to get Mendez to the next level of his career, it’s a road they’re willing to travel, even of the knowledge that Baloyi is a level above anyone else their charge has faced to date.
''Cassius is a former champion and he come to fight on any given night,” states Jose Nunez, who has managed and mentored Mendez ever since he turned pro in 2006. “Mendez is hungry to become the best in his division so he know that Baloyi is in his way.
“That being said, this fight is going to be a war.''
A war that will be fought on hostile territory, which if nothing else proves his willingness to travel to no end – figuratively and literally – to achieve his goals.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.