This past Saturday, DiBella Entertainment’s super featherweight contender Argenis Mendez traveled to Mexico to take on Mexico City-native Juan Carlos Salgado for the vacant IBF super featherweight championship. The fight saw terrific action from both boxers and was close, but the general consensus was that Mendez had done more than enough, and definitely more than Salgado, to pull out the decision victory. However, Salgado, the hometown favorite, was awarded the decision. ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael noted, “Salgado pulled this one out, but it certainly wasn’t easy and, frankly, it was close enough that giving the decision to Mendez would have been fine. Had the fight been on his turf, he might have gotten the call.”
While Team Mendez admits the fight itself was close¸ there was a number of questionable calls and non-calls made by the referee throughout the 12-round contest that certainly affected the outcome.
Salgado repeatedly hit Mendez behind the head with rabbit punches during the contest, and, although he was warned a number of times, at no point did the referee deduct a point. On the other hand, in the fifth round, a point was deducted from Mendez for the same infraction, without any previous warnings being made to the fighter.
In addition to the rabbit punching by Salgado, the fighter was also allowed to excessively hold at different points during the fight, especially in the 12th round after being knocked down and hurt very badly by Mendez. The excessive holding by Salgado allowed him to finish the fight and win the controversial decision by scores of 115-110, and 114-112 twice.
Give the controversy and circumstances of the fight, Team Mendez is asking for an immediate rematch. If an immediate rematch is not granted, Team Mendez hopes that they will at least retain their top position in the IBF ratings, so that a rematch with Salgado can be made in the very near future.
Promoter Lou DiBella added, “A rematch between Salgado and Mendez would be a terrific opening fight for Boxing After Dark or Showtime. If Gamboa is really moving up to 130 he will need quality opposition and a real champion to face.”
