Argenis Méndez’s Super-Featherweight Upset
On March 9, 2013, Argenis Méndez knocked out Juan Carlos Salgado in the fourth round in Costa Mesa to win the IBF junior-lightweight title.
Argenis Méndez’s IBF title run began with a long-awaited rematch and ended in an even stranger second meeting with the same challenger. The Dominican super-featherweight had lost a previous decision to Juan Carlos Salgado; when they fought again in 2013, Méndez left no doubt in the ring. After retaining his title against Arash Usmanee, Méndez faced Rances Barthelemy in a bout that turned on punches thrown after the bell.
The Barthelemy controversy is an important part of Méndez’s title chronology. The initial stoppage appeared to give Barthelemy the championship, but the punches that ended the bout came after the bell. Minnesota officials later changed the result to a no contest, restoring Méndez’s status as champion. Barthelemy then won the IBF belt in a later bout, so the two events should not be collapsed into one title change. The appeal outcome explains why Méndez is recorded as having retained his title after the 2014 fight (ESPN appeal report).
A title won, challenged, and lost to Barthelemy
Méndez first fought Salgado for the vacant IBF 130-pound title in 2011, when the Mexican won a unanimous decision. They met again at Costa Mesa’s Hangar on March 9, 2013. Méndez dropped Salgado in the first round, kept pressing, and finished him with a left hook 45 seconds into the fourth. The knockout brought Méndez the world title he had missed in their first contest.
Méndez retained the title with a majority draw against Arash Usmanee on August 23, 2013 (promoter’s fight report). His next defense came against Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy in Minneapolis on January 3, 2014. Barthelemy appeared to stop Méndez with a second-round combination, but the decisive punches landed after the bell. After an appeal and review, Minnesota’s boxing commission changed the official result to a no contest. Méndez kept the IBF belt; Barthelemy did not become champion from that fight.
The rematch took place in Miami on July 10. This time Barthelemy won a unanimous decision over twelve rounds, despite two point deductions for low blows, and took the title. The two bouts gave Méndez’s reign an unusual shape: a disputed stoppage could not settle the championship, so both men had to fight again. The rematch supplied the clear result the first contest could not.
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Sources and further reading
- Los Angeles Times: Méndez stops Salgado for the IBF title
- ESPN: Appeal changes Barthelemy result to no contest
- ESPN / Associated Press: Barthelemy wins the rematch and title
- Sky Sports: Barthelemy takes the IBF belt in Miami
Sources
Article Tags
Argenis Méndez, Boxing, Boxing History, Championship Fights
