On Saturday July 21 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla, top Dominican prospect Argenis Mendez 19-2-0 (10 KO’s) will face Mexican Martin Honorio 32-7-1 (16 KO’s) in an elimination bout to determine who will earn the right to challenge title holder Juan Carlos Salgado before the end of 2012.
Both men have losses to Juan Carlos Salgado, but Mendez holds the upper hand due to their first encounter. Mendez and Honorio fought before in 2010 at the Home Depot Centre, California, a 12-round bout for the USBA title. In that fight, Mendez won by majority decision 114-114, 116-112, and 116-112.
In their first meeting Mendez squeezed by with a majority decision thanks to his cleaner more effective punching. Mendez is currently training in Florida with British trainer Lee Beard. Logistics and visa issues have meant that it was not always possible for Mendez and Beard to work with each other but things have worked out this time and they are confident going into this world title eliminator.
Martin Honorio (32-7-1) is a veteran and a fighter that will come to fight and push anyone to see if Mendez can do what he did again. Mendez is younger, faster, and probably hungrier due to his visa issues and not being able to come to the states as much. I’m sure the hunger to get out of the poverty that is the Dominican Republic will also drive him.
In addition to the title eliminator, we will also see the return of undefeated former world champion Joan Guzman 32-0-1 (19 KO’s), along with the exciting, and talented Ed Paredes (30-3-1 20KO’s).
Guzman is fully recovered from surgery on his right hand after breaking it in his last fightagainst Jesus Pabon, while returns after medical issues prevented him from participating in the last promotion.
Dominican Pride will surely be on the display as the nations top talents in the sport of boxing are showcased on Telefutura.
