Q&A with Lee Beard: Argenis Mendez trainer from England

Lee Beard Argenis Mendez’s current trainer, spoke with us regarding Argenis’s next fight against IBF’s super featherweight title holder Mexican Juan Carlos Salgado. The 12 rounds bout scheduled for March 9^th at The Hangar in Costa Mesa. California. This is a rematch; Salgado won a controversial UD last September 10^th 2011 in Jalisco, Mexico.

RS: In your opinion, what is the Mendez advantage in this rematch against Salgado?

LB: Salgado fought a good fight. Salgado said before the last fight that he would have the power and ability to hurt and knock Mendez out.  That was not the case, Mendez knock Salgado down 2 times. So Mendez knows he can hurt and stop Salgado.

RS: How many weeks will Mendez be in this Training Camp?

LB: Mendez will have 8 weeks of training for this fight

RS: The fights will be in California, which is there is a large Mexican populations, do you think that will matters?

LB: Mendez boxed Martin Honorio in California and won by a close decision so he’s not worried about the fight being in California.  Mendez isn’t looking at this fight to go the whole distance and he will carry on where he left off in his first fight with.

RS: Are you training to win by KO or plan to beat Salgado by decision?

LB: I’m training Mendez for a hard 12 round fight.  Salgado is tough and won’t give his belt up lightly.  But Mendez is going in there to destroy Salgado, this is a fight Mendez wanted all along (the rematch) and it is here now and I can see Mendez hunger in the gym. Mendez is going to be going for a KO for sure

RS: Based on the first match, what do you think Argenis will do different in the next fight to beat Salgado?

LB: Mendez just needs to do what he is capable of and he will be ok.  He has tremendous foot & hand speed, a better defense, is smarter than Salgado and the slow start in the first fight won’t be happening this time.  Mendez will dictate the pace and control the fight.

RS: And finally, can you tell us how many rounds Mendez will need to be the new champ on March 9^th? 

LB: To me it doesn’t matter whether Mendez wins by KO or Decision, but we are looking for a great performance he is looking great in the gym right now and i am sure he will be the new IBF 130lb Champion on March 9th