Former world champion Argenis Mendez won a 10-round split decision over Ivan Redkach in a junior welterweight bout at the Sportsman’s Lodge in Studio City, California.
Mendez of San Juan, DR won by scores of 96-93, 95-94 and Redkach won a card 95-94.
Mendez, 136.8 lbs is now 24-5-1. Redkach, Bkovah, UK is 20-3-1.
Stated a visibly upset Redkach, “The judges were wrong. I won that fight.
“I felt that I knocked him down and the referee didn’t call it and he took the point away and that cost me. I never felt any pain. I fought like I wanted to and I thought I did enough.
“They were wrong. This was my night.”
Said the happy and victorious Mendez, “I used my skill and my speed throughout the fight, but I waited to come forward until the fourth or fifth round. I knew he wasn’t going to be able to knock me out because I have great defense. I see every punch.
“I definitely slipped both times I went down. He didn’t even hit me.
“Ivan is a tough warrior. He throws a lot of wild punches and he hit me in the back of the head several times. I thought the scorecards were too close. I thought I won by a much larger margin.”
Brandon Figueroa remained perfect as he won a eight round unanimous decision over Luis Saavedra in a super bantamweight bout.
Saavedra began to bleed from his nose in round six.
Figueroa, 121.8 lbs of Weslaco, TX won by scores of 78-74 and 79-73 twice, and is now 12-0. Saavedra, 121.2 lbs of San Luis Potosi, MX is 7-3.
Said Figueroa, “I worked the body and tried to finish it in the later rounds, but he was a tough opponent. I knew by the third or fourth round that it was going to be a really tough fight so I kept my distance, but kept trying to punish the body.
“He is a Mexican fighter that has never been knocked down so that says a lot about him right there. I knew he was going to be tough.
“I want to wait and fight next on a card with my brother and it depends when that will be, but I will be ready.”
Countered Saavedra, “He kept hitting the body, but he couldn’t take me down. He isn’t as tough as everyone says.
“I was prepared, but the travel here took a lot out of me and I didn’t feel 100 percent today. I trained 100 percent, but I wasn’t at my best in the ring, but that is how it goes.
“I wish Brandon the best of luck in his career.”
In a back and forth brawl, Jonathan Torres won a six-round unanimous decision over Antonio Santa Cruz in a bantamweight bout.
Torres, 117.8 lbs of Tlajomulco, MX won by scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56 and is now 8-5-1. Santa Cruz, 117.6 lbs of San Gabriel, CA is 5-3.
Said the victorious Torres, “I stuck to my game plan. I went forward and tried to counter every punch. If he threw one, I would try to throw five. I never really felt his power. He hit me with a good shot in the first, but after that I wasn’t fazed.
“I was motivated by all the fans cheering me on in the crowd and knowing I had a lot of people rooting for me watching at home. I really appreciate the support and can’t wait to get back in the gym.”
Stated a disappointed Santa Cruz, “He was applying a lot of pressure. He is shorter than me, so that was his game plan and it worked.
“He has good experience. This was my first six round fight. He had fought 10 rounds before. Not trying to make excuses though. He just got the better of me. I came prepared, but he did what he had to do to win.”
