Argenis Mendez Rededicated, Hunts For World Title
Mar 4, 2015 • 7:56 AM ET
Rutherford, NJ – Fighting for the first time since losing his IBF Jr. Lightweight title in July 2014, Algenis (correct spelling) Mendez has come roaring back with a new mindset: to use his natural boxing skills to apply a more aggressive style when he steps into the ring.
During his 16-month title reign, the tall and lanky fighter had also struggled to make the 130lbs. Jr. Lightweight limit, another factor which hampered his performances. Now competing in the lightweight division the sky is the limit for this talented boxer from the Dominican Republic, as he sets his sights on the top fighters of this talent-laden division.
The road back to a championship started on Feb. 20, when he faced the tough Mexican Daniel Evangelista (17-4-1, 13 KOs) on the ShowBox card headlined by Sammy Vasquez vs. Emmanuel Lartey at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Heading into preparations for the fight, trainer Marc Farrait made it clear this would not be Algenis’s typical training camp. “We started working late in the fall of last year,” explained Farrait. “I told him the passive style he had grown accustomed to is not going to work if he wants to win another world title and fight on major TV networks. No more pitty-pat punches and standing in front of his opponent admiring his work.”
Mendez, now 22-3-1, 12 KOs, took care of business right away, knocking Evangelista down early in the fight and again in the sixth round. He was consistently effective, mixing it up by targeting the body and then landing hard shots to the head. With nowhere to go, Evangelista quit in the corner at the end of the sixth round.
Garry Jonas, Algenis’ co-manager, is in agreement with Farrait’s assessment. “This is the beginning of a new and improved Algenis Mendez,” he said. “Now a puncher and an aggressive one, a puncher who can box.” Jonas has big plans for Mendez and expects him to be even better than he was against Evangelista next time around. “Algenis can be an exciting fighter.”
With this first fight as a lightweight under their belt, the team is looking to have him back in the ring as soon as possible. And with Al Haymon as his advisor, you can expect to see Mendez stay busy and get big fights on his way to another championship.
Once considered a can’t-miss star, Mendez is confident his talent will indeed carry him to the top of the lightweight division. So stay tuned for Algenis Mendez v2.0.
