MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Ryan Burton catches up with IBF super featherweight champion Rances Barthelemy to discuss his recent title winning victory in the televised rematch with Argenis Mendez, his thoughts on the junior middleweight collision between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and WBA 'regular' champion Erislandy Lara, the future of his career and more.
Rances Barthelemy is the new IBF super-featherweight champion after a unanimous points win over Argenis Mendez in Miami. Bathelemy improved his record to 20-0 after all three judges scored the fight 115-111 in favour of the Cuban. Barthelemy had beaten Mendez back in January via a second round stoppage only for the decision to be changed to a "no contest" after replays confirmed the fight-ending combination had come after the bell. There was no such controversy this time, although the margin of victory could have been greater for Barthelemy after he was deducted points in the ninth and 10th rounds for low blows.
Argenis Mendez and Rances Barthelemy prepare for their anticipated rematch Thursday evening at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Their title fight headlines a televised tripleheader airing live on Fox Sports 1 and is scheduled to air later this evening. In the ring now, 18-year old welterweight prospect Erickson Lubin (5-0, 5KOs) faces veteran Noe Bolanos in a scheduled eight-round bout. The televised co-feature pits Humberto Savigne (12-1, 9KOs) against faded former super middleweight titlist Jeff Lacy in a light heavyweight battle scheduled for 10 rounds.
Six months after their controversial first fight to kick off the 2014 boxing season, “Judgment Day” has finally arrived for Argenis Mendez and Rances Barthelemy. The two collide in a title fight rematch Thursday evening, with Fox Sports 1 to televise the action live from the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Mendez attempts the third defense of his 130 lb. title, without having won a single fight since claiming the belt more than a year ago. Barthelemy looks to claim the title in his second try, without having lost. Make sense? This is boxing, so of course it does. Barthelemy (20-0-1, 13KOs) was hailed as a newly crowned champ for approximately four weeks in the wake of what was officially ruled as a 2nd round knockout of Mendez in their ESPN2-televised bout this past January in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The action was one way for the six minutes it lasted, with Barthelemy in control and even flooring the Dominican boxer in round two. Unfortunately for the unbeaten challenger, the fight-ending sequence – a two-punch combination on a spent and defenseless Mendez – came just after the bell had sounded to end round two. Referee Peter Podgorski ruled a second official knockdown scored, deeming Mendez unfit to continue and hailing Barthelemy as a knockout winner. However, the unbeaten Cuban was forced to give back the title when the Minnesota boxing commission overturned the verdict later that month upon a successful appeal filed by Mendez’ legal team. Barthelemy has fought long and hard in the months that followed for everything from reinstatement as champion to a more favorable purse split. His team lost every legal battle every step of the way, but the good news is that Barthelemy gets to return to the one place where he briefly proved his superiority – the ring. As for Mendez (21-2-1, 11KOs), the jury is out on whether or not he still belongs at 130 lb., and if the six minutes of action in the first fight was a fluke. Will Mendez prove he’s still a force in the 130 lb. division? Will Barthelemy prove that the first fight was no fluke, this time performing his best work within the time limit? Read on to see how the staff at Boxingscene.com believes tonight’s title fight action in South Florida goes down.
Argenis Mendez and Rances Barthelemy both made weight for their 130 lb. title fight rematch Thursday evening at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Mendez came in at 129.8 lb, slightly lighter than Barthelemy, who tipped the scales right at the 130 lb. limit for their sequel, which airs live on Fox Sports 1.
Miami, FL - With the most highly anticipated rematch in years taking place next week, legendary former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson gave his thoughts on the Thursday, July 10 International Boxing Federation (IBF) Super Featherweight showdown between his fighter, champion ARGENIS “La Tormenta” MENDEZ, 20-2-1 (11KO’s) and top rated challenger RANCES “Kid Blast” BARTHELEMY, 19-0-0 (12KO’s). Presented by Iron Mike Productions, the Mendez-Barthelemy rematch headlines “JUDGMENT DAY” from the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida and LIVE on FOX Sports 1. The first bout which took place on January 3, 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota was initially and wrongly ruled a second round stoppage for Barthelemy. However, the decision was reversed and ruled a “No Decision” by the Minnesota State Boxing Commission as a video replay clearly showed Mendez being hit after the bell sounded to end the second round.
With barely a month to go before his rematch with Rances Barthelemy, defending 130 lb. titlist Argenis Mendez continues to grind it out in training camp. The Dominican boxer has been hard at work at Iron Mike Productions Gym in Deerfield Beach, opening up training camp in early May, with head cornerman Lee Beard and strength and conditioning coach Angel Heredia. The rematch takes place July 10 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami and will air live on Fox Sports 1.
At some point, Rances Barthelemy and his team will reach a point where they realize the only way to claim championship status is by winning his scheduled July 10 rematch with Argenis Mendez. A motion for Summary Disposition requested by Barthelemy through his legal team to review the proceedings leading to his January 3 bout with Mendez changed to a No-Contest was denied by the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings on Monday. The ruling upholds a decision made by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry to overturn the official decision of their aforementioned title fight from a 2nd round knockout win for Barthelemy to a No-Decision. The original verdict resulted in Barthelemy claiming a 130 lb. title, a status the Cuban is determined to reclaim, as it would result in a significant pay increase for their upcoming rematch.
The anticipated 130 lb. title fight rematch between Argenis Mendez and Rances Barthelemy now has a date, location and the blessing of the International Boxing Federation (IBF). The bout will take place on July 10 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, Florida. The IBF has formally sanctioned the contest, in which Mendez attempts the third defense of his title. "Be advised that the IBF has granted formal sanction approval for the (Mendez-Barthelemy rematch)," IBF Ratings Chairman Lindsay Tucker informed members of both camps, through a letter obtained by Boxingscene.com.
Iron Mike Productions (IMP) won the right to promote the ordered 130 lb. title fight rematch between Argenis Mendez and Rances Barthelemy. The Florida-based promotional company earned the honor during a purse bid hearing held Tuesday afternoon at the International Boxing Federation (IBF) headquarters in New Jersey, with a winning bid of $261,000. The amount barely edged out Warriors Promotion, Barthelemy's promoter who submitted $251,000 in efforts to secure the rights to the rematch. Both companies served as co-promoters for the first fight this past January in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The rematch is due to take place in June, with Showtime likely to televise.