Argenis Mendez

Argenis Alexander Méndez Zapata (born July 3, 1986) is a Dominican former professional boxer who held the International Boxing Federation super-featherweight title from 2013 to 2014. As an amateur, he won the featherweight (57 kg) silver medal at the Junior World Championships in 2004, as well as the gold medal in the same division at the 2005 Pan American Championship.

Early life and amateur career

Mendez started boxing at the age of 12. At Jeju, South Korea, he won the featherweight silver medal at the World Junior Championships in 2004, where he beat Eddy Flores Cotilla before losing to Eduard Ambartsumyan in the final.

He lost in the first round of the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, against the Ukrainian Maksym Tretyak. Mendez had qualified for the Olympic Games by topping the 2nd AIBA American 2004 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. but lost early against Russian amateur standout Aleksei Tishchenko, who had beaten him earlier in the year. In an IBF super-featherweight title eliminator, Mendez fought Baloyi in Brakpan, South Africa on January 29, 2011. Mendez won a unanimous decision victory, with scores of 117-110, 117-110, and 117-111, outclassing the former champion with his speed and combination punching.

Argenis Mendez finally got his chance for the vacant IBF super-featherweight against former World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion and Jorge Linares conqueror Juan Carlos Salgado. On September 10, 2011, at Zapopan, Mexico, Mendez lost a close decision victory to Salgado. Both boxers landed good combination punches and fought competitively. Mendez lost a point in the fifth round for hitting behind the head, but was able to drop Salgado in the final round.

He had a quick bounce-back victory over Alex Perez on November 18, 2011, in Santo Domingo, winning by knockout in the second round.

In April 2012, Mendez signed for the boxing promoter Acquinity Sports alongside compatriots Félix Díaz and Gilbert Lenin Castillo.

Professional boxing record