After signing with powerful adviser Al Haymon, Rances Barthelemy will get a second chance to lift the IBF super featherweight title from Argenis Mendez, with the fight looking likely for June on Showtime, according to a report by Jake Donovan at BoxingScene.com.
Barthelemy (19-0, 12 KO) beat Mendez (21-2-1, 11 KO) on January 3, winning the belt on ESPN Friday Night Fightsafter a second round knockout. But the IBF overruled the decision in Minnesota, and rightly so, as the knockout punch came after the bell to end the round, thus returning the title to Mendez.
The sanctioning body then returned the belt to Mendez, but ordered a rematch, as well. Barthelemy dominated what little fight there was on January 3, and will be the heavy favorite to win this time, most likely, but Mendez can certainly fight a lot better than he did the first time around, and it might be a tougher fight than expected.