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Mendy Defends Against Madni
Dec. 16
World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental Light
Welterweight Champion Yvan Mendy, 22-2-1 (11), will make the
second defense of his championship on December 16, taking on
Belgian Challenger Tarik Madni at the Salle Marcel Cerdan in
Thourotte, France.
Having won the WBF title in June 2010 with a dominating
performance against tough Britt Peter McDonagh, 26-year-old
Mendy successfully defended against Ugandan 2004 Olympian,
and former African Champion, Sam Rukundo last December.
Since then he has been plagued by some bad luck, drawing
with and losing a close decision to Abdoulaye Soukouna in
French national title bouts. Soukouane also holds a 2008
victory over Mendy, thus being the only man to blemish his
countryman’s record.
In November Mendy returned with a victory in a non title
fight against Serbian Mladen Zivkov, and he is reportedly
determined on putting the Soukouane-disappointments behind
him and focused on achieving greater things in the future.
Tarik Madni, 15-2 (0), is somewhat in the same situation as
his opponent on the 16th. After winning his first fourteen
bouts, the Belgian suffered two straight setbacks, albeit
against formidable opposition, and is now going for
redemption after scoring a tune-up victory in November.
Both losses on Madni’s record came in Ukraine. Last year he
dropped a decision to Volodymyr Kravets (22-0) for the IBC
title, and this past summer he lost a ten-rounder against
Viktor Postol (13-0). While not carrying much of a punch
himself, Madni proved against these hard-hitters that there
is nothing wrong with his chin and durability.
No shame in losing to top-notch opponents such as Kravets
and Postol, and Madni got back to winning ways in January by
defeating former Georgian champion Khakhaber Avetisian. But
at 36 years of age, he has limited time to fulfill his
potential and capture a professional title. With that in
mind, Madni is bound to give it his best shot against Mendy.
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