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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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