Frenchman Mendy Makes Impression On Showtime Tourney
By Michael Woods July 30th, 2006French super middleweight shines on Showtime
The Showtime super middleweight tournament kicked off on Friday night with the first two bouts of the eight-man elimination extravaganza, and while two men advanced, one did it in grand fashion that demanded viewers tune in to his next outing.
The standout of the night was Frenchman Jean-Paul Mendy, a ‘96 Olympian, who stepped in with Dallas Vargas, the most prominent legally deaf fighter in the whole world.
The 32-year-old Mendy (22-0, 12 knockouts) overwhelmed Vargas in the ring at the PFTC Sports Center in Las Vegas, after a minute of sizing him up. It appeared that Vargas hadn’t studied any scouting report that said the Frenchman had much pop or a truly aggressive ring style.
But can he be blamed? The southpaw Mendy has fought softies in France and South Carolina, so his ferocity did surprise everyone, including announcers Nick Charles and Steve Farhood.
“Deaf Pride” Vargas (21-3) ate about seven shots when the ref called it a day at 1:45 of the first of the scheduled tenner, and he protested mildly after the halting, but the ref did the right thing, saving the 29-year-old Toledo, Ohio boxer from more punishment.
Mendy will meet the night’s other winner, 27-year-old Henry “Sugar Poo” Buchanan (14-0). A Maryland resident, Buchanan was of a higher skill and experience level than his opponent, Lucas Green-Arias (11-1), of Costa Rica. He moved smartly and stayed away from the Costa Rican, who was too plodding in trying to land a power shot. The judges were unanimous for Buchanan.
He and Mendy are supposed to get it on in the semifinals on Oct.6, but Buchanan hurt his right hand so it remains to be seen whether he will be able to lace them up. Green-Arias will step in if he can’t fight.
The next installment of the tourney comes Friday, Aug. 4, when Anthony Hanshaw (19-0, 13 KOs) of Warren, Ohio, takes on Esteban Camou (18-1, 15 KOs) of Navojoa, Mexico. Also, Sakio Bika (20-1-2, 14 KOs) of Douala, Cameroon, faces Jose Luis Herrera (14-1, 14 KOs) of San Onofre, Colombia.
July 31st, 2006 at 9:50 am
Good response that Vargas people did no scouting report on Mendy. I actually counted 16 consecutive punches without return even though it seemed it may have been a quick stoppage on Tony Weeks part.
Buchanan was not impressive considering he was up against someone who you had to wonder “how did this guy get into the tournament?” Green-Arias will probably be a future opponent for Andre Ward. Vargas and Herrera are two #175 coming down to #168. Hopefully Herrera does better. Even with the sound off it was dreadful. Fortuneatly it was taped and I could fast forward thru the 10 rounder. I gather this tourney is for Hanshaw’s promoter.