Luke Campbell-Argenis Mendez Now For Vacant WBC Silver

By Elliot Foster

Luke Campbell could well be in line for a shot at a world title before the end of the year.

The Commonwealth lightweight champion, 28, returned from his sole career defeat to knock out Gary Sykes for the aforementioned strap in March and faces yet another step up in his next outing.

Campbell (13-1, 11 KOs), who lost his undefeated ledger in the paid code to Yvan Mendy last December, will come up against Argenis Mendez on July 30, live on Sky Sports.

The pair will clash at the First Direct Arena in Leeds in the chief supporting contest to Josh Warrington’s WBC International featherweight title defence against former world title challenger Patrick Hyland.

And it was revealed at a press conference on Monday, which took place at Aspire on Infirmary Street, by promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport that the vacant WBC Silver lightweight title will be at stake.

The fringe WBC bauble could mean that the winner earns a high ranking with the Mexican-based organisation that will put them in contention for a shot. The current WBC lightweight champion is Dejan Zlaticanin.

Mendez (23-4-1, 12 KOs) is a former world champion, having held the IBF title down at super-featherweight, but the Dominican Republic-born 30-year-old was stopped inside five rounds by future vacant IBF lightweight title co-challenger Robert Easter Jr. on April 1 in Washington.

The nine-stone nine-pound duo will be joined on the ‘Leeds Rumble’ card by British bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett, who will defend his WBC International crown, and Tommy Martin who returns from defeat.

Elsewhere, Tyrone Nurse and Tommy Coyle meet in a mouthwatering super-lightweight clash for the former’s prestigious British title, Frankie Gavin and Sam Eggington feature in separate contests ahead of a local derby in Birmingham in October and Gamal Yafai defends his Commonwealth bantamweight title against former British super-bantamweight title challenger Josh Wale.

And there is action for Darren Tetley, Connor Seymour and Brixton heavyweight Dillian Whyte, while Jake Ball and Reece Mould will look to keep up their undefeated runs alongside Commonwealth Games gold medallist Scott Fitzgerald.