Argenis Mendez in England for training camp to Prepare for 1st IBF super featherweight title defense

(Picture by Rey Sanchez / Acquinity Sports)  DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (February 26, 2013) - International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight champion Argenis "The Thunderstorm" Mendez (21-2-, 10 KOs) has arrived in England and joined his trainer, Lee Beard, to prepare for his first title defense. Mendez, a 2004 Dominican Republic Olympian now living in Miami, captured the IBF crown this past March in a rematch, destroying defending champion Juan Carlos Salgado in four rounds. "We're going to England to begin preparation for our first title defense," Mendez said before departing Florida. "We trained there in the UK before I defeated Salgado and the result was the best. We will be in England for about 45 days with my main trainer, Lee Beard, and other members of our championship team. We will meet to establish a training and nutrition plan to have me in great physical condition right through the night of my next fight. We are dedicated to reaching our goal to retain my title. The only way we know how to achieve success is to continue working hard." Mendez is scheduled to defend his crown in the middle of July against an opponent to be determined. "My job is to be ready to fight when my promoter tells me who, when and where," added Mendez, who is rated No. 3 in the world by The Ring Magazine.  "We had to make many sacrifices to get this world title. There are many good fighters out there at 130 pounds for me to face. If any world-class super featherweight thinks he can beat me, talk to your promoter, and let's make that fight. We only want to fight the best. "I tell all boxing fans that I'm not an arrogant athlete. I believe in God and family, and give thanks for what I have with humility. However, I also want to tell everyone out there that we are ready to enter the ring with the any of the best 130-pounders in the world like Roman 'Rocky' Martinez, Ricky Burns, Takashi Uchiyama, or Mikey Garcia. These are the fights that boxing fans really want to see, so let's give them the very best fight." Mendez and his countryman, two-time world champion Joan "Little Tyson" Guzman (33-1-1, 20 KOs), are the undisputed leaders of Team Acquinity Sports, which has developed a strong stable of fighters that includes high-level Latino prospects in various weight classes such as  (Dominicans) Ed "The Lion" Paredes (32-3-1, 21 KOs), Claudio "The Matrix" Marrero (14-0, 11 KOs), Juan Carlos Payano (13-0, 7 KOs), Lenin Castillo 8-0, 5 KOs) and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz (12-0, 6 KOs), as well as (Cubans) Humberto "El Don" Savigne (11-1, 8 KOs), Glendy "The Guantanamo Giant" Hernandez (9-0, 8 KOs), 2008 Olympic silver medalist Yudel Jhonson (13-1, 8 KOs), Alexei "The Hurricane" Collado (15-0, 14 KOs) and 2008 Olympian Robert Alfonso (1-0).  The newest addition is Mexican warrior Moises "El Chucky" Flores (18-0, 13 KOs). Other top Acquinity Sports fighters include American-born fighters Hylon "Kid Cosmo" Williams Jr. (16-1, 3 KOs), Isiah Thomas (12-0, 6 KOs) and Dominique "3D" Dolton (13-0, 7 KOs). "Our team consists of a lot of young people who, very soon, will be fighting on the big stage against great rivals in divisions ranging from 122-pounds to heavyweight," Rivalta noted. Go online to www.AquniitySports.com for additional information about Mendez or any of his stable-mates.  Follow Acquinity Sports on Twitter @AcquinitySports, or friend is at Facebook.com/AcquinitySports.   ABOUT ACQUINITY SPORTS: Founded in 2011 by CEO Gary Jonas and Henry Rivalta, Vice President of Boxing Operations, Acquinity Sports is a full-service promotional company based in south Florida.   Acquinity Sports is committed to changing traditional boxing promotion as an advocate of its fighters, supporting them to succeed in and out of the ring throughout their professional careers and into retirement. Fully dedicated to providing a structured environment, Acquinity Sports develops each individual fighter to maximize their potential, ensuring maximum exposure to audiences across a diverse range of channels, as well as encouraging team spirit and sense of family so crucial for success in the highly-competitive sport and business of boxing. Acquinity Sports continues to sign incredible talent in various weight divisions to provide fans the highest level of year-round entertainment in professional boxing. Seasons may change but Acquinity Sports' commitment remains to bring the heat.

Argenis Mendez gets second chance at Juan Carlos Salgado to become Acquinity Sports' first World Champion

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (March 6, 2013) - Top contender Argenis "The Thunderstorm" Mendez (20-2, 10 KOs) gets another shot at International Featherweight Boxing (IBF) Juan Carlos Salgado (26-1-1, 16 KOs) on Saturday night (March 9) in the 12-round main event, live on HBO Latino from The Hanger in Costa Mesa, California. Mendez recently returned from an eight-week training camp with his trainer, Lee Beard, in England. "I've been working hard to get ready for this fight," Mendez said. "I'm excited to be fighting once again for the world title and on HBO Latino. I'm going to take care of unfinished business. I'm not going to leave the final result in the hands of the judges this time. I'm coming back with the belt for my family and team, Acquniity Sports, and my country, Dominican Republic." Mendez earned his title shot in the Salgado rematch, as the 2004 Dominican Republic Olympian did the first time around, winning IBF title eliminators to become the mandatory challenger again. In 2011, Mendez easily won a 12-round unanimous decision (117-110, 117-110, 117-111) over Cassius Baloyi (37-5-1) in South Africa. Eight months later, Mendez challenged Salgado in his native Mexico, dropping a closely contested and controversial 12-round decision (114-112, 114-112, 115-110), in which Mendez decked Salgado in the final round. Mendez, now living in Miami, bounced right back, winning a 12-round unanimous decision (117-109, 116-110, 115-111) from Martin Honorio (32-7-1) last July in another IBF title eliminator. Honorio is the only common opponent for Mendez and Salgado; the Dominican having won a pair of 12-round decisions, the Mexican one. Mendez can become Acquiniity Sports' first world champion. "I'm very happy with Mendez' progress and I'm very confident that he will become our first world champion this Saturday night," Acquinity Sports CEO Gary Jonas commented. "Our business started a little more than a year ago and Mendez will be our first world champion," added an equally confident Henry Rivalta, Acquinity Sports' Vice President of Boxing Operations. "In the first fight, Mendez should have done a little more early in the fight. He beat-up Salgado near the end of the fight, but the judges must not have felt that he did enough to beat the defending world champion in his home country. Mendez doesn't plan for this fight to go the full distance. He's in great shape after going through a rigorous training camp with his trainer, Lee Beard. Salgado won't be fighting the same Mendez this Saturday night. Argenis is hungry and eager. He felt that he won the last fight and believes he'll win this fight. "Fighters don't get many opportunities like this and Mendez is going into the fight to knockout Salgado. He dominated the fight against Honorio to win the IBF title eliminator and become Salgado's mandatory challenger.   We're proud of Argenis for all the hard work he's put in and behind him 100-percent. He has a great team with Lee and his manager, Jose Nunez. We're ready to celebrate with a parade back home when Mendez becomes world champion." Mendez was also a world-class amateur boxer, compiling an eye-opening 238-13 record, highlighted by a gold-medal performance in the 2005 Pan-American Games. He captured a silver medal at the 2005 World Championships. Salgado and Mendez are rated No. 2 and No. 7, respectively, by The Ring Magazine. Mendez' fellow countryman and stable-mate, Joan "Little Tyson" Guzman, captured world titles in two weight classes prior to signing a promotional contract with Acquinity Sports.   Guzman, however, will fight Vincente "El Loco" Mosquera, tentatively scheduled for May 31, for the Interim World Boxing Association super lightweight title.      (L) Argenis Mendez stalks opponent (all pictures by Rey Sanchez / Acquinity Sports) Go online to www.AquinitySports.com for additional information about Mendez or his stable-mates. Follow Acquinity Sports on Twitter @AcquinitySports, or friend is at Facebook.com/AcquinitySports.