By Jake Donovan

A mandated title fight rematch between Juan Carlos Salgado and Argenis Mendez is now heading to a purse bid, BoxingScene.com was informed Friday evening.

The two sides were in negotiations for the past 30 days, with Friday as the final date to reach a deal before a purse bid would be ordered. IBF rules stipulate that all mandatory title fights must take place every nine months, with the bout officially ordered seven months from the date of the last defense.

Friday – December 28 – marked seven months to the day of Salgado’s last mandatory title defense, when he outpointed countryman Martin Honorio on April 28 in Mexico. Salgado (26-1-1, 16KO) has made three defenses of the 130 lb. belt he won in a vacant title fight against Mendez last September.

Controversy came of their fight, which took place in Mexico. Salgado jumped out to an early lead but faded down the stretch. Mendez scored the bout’s lone knockdown, flooring Salgado in the 12th and final round to finish strong. His late rally proved just that – too late, as Salgado already enjoyed a sizeable enough lead to escape with a points win for his second title reign at 130 lb.

Mendez (20-2, 10KO) has since won two straight, including a dominant 12-round points win in a July rematch with Honorio. The timing was perfect, as Honorio was three months removed from his strong showing against Salgado, and also firmly insisted he was robbed in his first fight with Mendez two years prior.

Salgado first entered the title picture with a shocking 1st round knockout of then-unbeaten Jorge Linares in Oct. ’09. The glory was short-lived, as his reign ended three months later, in the closing seconds of his scheduled 12-round bout with Takashi Uchiyama, whose reign continues as he makes his sixth title defense on New Year’s Eve in Japan.

Three fights later, Salgado landed the vacant title fight with Mendez en route to becoming a two-time 130 lb. titlist.

The plan following his honored mandatory against Honorio was to secure a lucrative optional fight. The Mexican eyed Yuriorkis Gamboa, hoping to land the fight within the seven month period granted to all titlists before they must cease activity and enter negotiations for their upcoming mandatory defense.

Mendez and his team were keen to these plans, but knew their hands were tied and could only wait out the process. Patience proved to be a virtue; Gamboa’s bizarre promotional situation derailed plans for a showdown with Salgado, thus creating a clear path for Mendez to avenge last year’s loss.

The purse bid will be held on January 10, 2013, taking place at the IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey. All promoters interested in participating must be registered with the IBF and their annual dues paid in full. Bids will be accepted in person (the promoter himself or a company representative) , through registered or certified mail, or through overnight services such as USPS, FedEx, UPS or DHL.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeNDaBox