By Reynaldo Sanchez

Lee Beard, Argenis Mendez’s current trainer, spoke with us regarding his boxer's upcoming rematch with IBF super featherweight titleholder Juan Carlos Salgado of Mexico. The 12 round bout is scheduled for March 9th at The Hangar in Costa Mesa. California. Salgado won a controversial decision over Mendez on September 10th 2011 in Jalisco, Mexico.

Beard think Mendez will have a lot of advantages on this fight, compared to the first in 2011.

“Salgado fought a good fight the last time. 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 two times. So Mendez knows he can hurt and stop Salgado.

Despite the fight being in California, that does not worry Mendez's team and Lee Beard stated:

“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 Salgado.”

“Mendez just needs to do what he is capable of and he will be okay.  He has tremendous foot and 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. I'm training Mendez for a hard twelve 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's hunger in the gym. Mendez is going to be going for a KO for sure.”