Paul Mendez to Co-Main Event Fox Sports 1 Card

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Two weeks ago, Paul Mendez (14-2-1 6KOs) was at Cache Creek Casino in Brooks, CA doing his job defending the IBA Middleweight title, as well as causing terror on foes who entered the ring across from him. Mendez who turned professional in 2009 has not tasted defeat since September of 2011, and even that loss was a split decision that many felt could have gone either way. Over the past year, Mendez has now become one of the fighters in focus who could be the next fighter to become a marquee name.

Training out of the Sam Garcia Boxing Gym in Salinas, CA, Mendez has become a tough out for anyone. Mendez fought Derek Hinkey (9-2 8KOs), DonYil Livingston (8-3 4KOS), who fought on the Mayweather-Guerrero undercard, and Dmitry Chudinov (11-0-2 7KO) earlier in his career. Mendez, has earned his stripes in the ring and now is on the fringe of cracking the top ten and Monday, October 28th is looking to be his potential statement to the masses.

Up until this point, Mendez is known from his acclaim on club shows and a few appearances on Spanish only networks later at night. Mendez now has the opportunity to demand recognition and praise from us all with a dominant performance and judging by his last outing this could be as, “easy as tying his two shoes,” to quote Juelz Santana.

Mendez demolished Rahman Mustafa Yusubov (9-11), who is best known for knocking out James Page in Page’s return. You can look at the record of Yusubov and look down on the win, but Yusubov is a game vet who causes problems for people since he throws with a pep in his step with each blow and does not back down from confrontation, if anything walks towards it. Mendez showed a Fulbright Scholarship type jab, one that might win an endowment of the arts, dare I say, as he backed the brawler Yusubov back. Mendez has power, but is not defined by it – it is his use of the ring and sheer boxing ability to makes the television debut of Paul Mendez one of the interesting storylines heading into Monday, October 28th event.  Mendez’s volume and power proved to be far too much as he simply broke down after five rounds and simply said enough is enough in between rounds. Mendez is now looking for his fourth victory of the year after his victory over Rahman Yusubov, with wins earlier this year over Alfredo Contreras and Dashon Johnson.

Mendez could be in the running with a good showing to fight highly touted, The Money Team middleweight prospect, J’Leon Love, who has now been suspended due to a positive drug test after his controversial win over Gabriel Rosado in last May. Love, who many felt could be moving up to fight for a title in the near future seemed to regress in the Rosado fight and not long after Mendez made it clear, Love is a fight he would want.

Promoters Paco Damian and Don Chargin work with Golden Boy Promotions as well and though J’Leon Love is not with Golden Boy per say, considering Mayweather works exclusively with Golden Boy, it can be assumed that his team will follow suit. The best test will be for Mendez is not to just win, but to stand out to the average boxing fan tuning in to get their fix on a Monday night and seem different from the rest. This season of “Golden Boy Live” broadcast on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes has produced some good fights in the main bouts, but I honestly can’t remember a single undercard affair for the three cards that have existed in the series’ run.

Mendez will be looking to change this. He will open up the card that begins at 10:00 PM EST/ 7:00 PM PST at The Sports House in Redwood City, CA. The card will be headlined by fast rising star from Fairfield, CA, Manuel “Tino” Avila who looks to make a statement against Jose “Cacho” Silveira. It is heavily rumored that Bay Area prospect Jonathan Chicas will be returning to action in what may be the television swing bout, but is not confirmed whether it will be on television or not. Lightweight Andy Vences of Undisputed Boxing Gym also looks to appear on this card as well.

Avila vs. Silveira, a 10-round super bantamweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy

Promotions, Don Chargin Productions and Paco Presents and sponsored by Corona and O’Reilly

Auto Parts. The Sports House doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT and the first fight starts at 5:30 PM

PT. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 PM PT.

 

Tickets priced at $35, $55 and $100 go on sale at 6:00 p.m. PT on Thursday, October 3 and will

be available for purchase by calling the Sports House at (650) 362-4100, by calling Undisputed

Boxing Gym at (650) 631-3781 or online at www.pacopresentsboxing.com.