Anthony Peterson vs Argenis Mendez Preview Mar. 24th
Former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Argenis Mendez of the Dominican Republic will be taking on Anthony Peterson of Washington D.C. this Sunday, March 24th at the MGM Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The 10-round junior welterweight bout can be seen live in the USA on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes. Mendez last fought in May when he beat Eddie Ramirez by a 10-round unanimous decision. Peterson’s last outing was in January of 2018 when he fought 10 rounds with Luis Eduardo Florez and beat him handily, but the bout was called a no-contest when Peterson failed a post-fight drug test.
Peterson vs Mendez Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Anthony Peterson +108
- Argenis Mendez -128
My Pick
The 32-year-old Mendez won the IBF Super Featherweight Championship in 2013 when he stopped Juan Carlos Salgado in the fourth round. He then drew Arash Usmanee in his first defence five months later. His next defence was against Rances Barthelemy and Mendez was dropped twice in the second round and the referee stopped the contest. However, the boxing commission reversed the referee’s call and changed it to a no decision after video replays showed Mendez was hit after the bell.
However, Mendez lost the rematch to Barthelemy via a unanimous decision in July of 2014. Mendez will enter the bout with a mark of 25-5-1 with 12 Kos. He’s 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 71-inch reach. Mendez isn’t considered a one-punch knockout artist as his current knockout ratio is just 38 per cent in the 213 rounds he’s fought since turning pro in 2006. Mendez has been stopped once, which was in the fifth round against Robert Easter Jr. in April of 2016.
Along with losing to Barthelemy, he’s also dropped decisions to Juan Carlos Salgado in 2011 for the vacant IBF Super Featherweight Title, Jaime Sandoval in 2008 and to Luke Campbell by 12-round unanimous decision in 2016 for the vacant WBC Silver Lightweight Championship. He’s also beat some decent boxers during his career including Ivan Redkach, Martin Honorio, and Miguel Vazquez.
As for Peterson, he just turned 34 years old and is the younger brother of former world champ Lamont Peterson. He carries a fine record of 37-1 along with 24 Kos. His lone loss came at the hands of Brandon Rios via a seventh-round disqualification back in 2010. Peterson turned pro in 2004 and has 208 rounds under his belt since then. He stands 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 74-inch reach so is an inch shorter than Mendez, but has a three-inch reach advantage.
Peterson has pretty good power with a 62 per cent knockout ratio and also owns a solid chin. He won the vacant WBO NABO Lightweight Title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Adan Hernandez in 2006. His biggest wins have been against the likes of Alfred Kotey, Jermaine White, Jose Soto, Juan Humberto Garza, Luis Arceo, Daniel Attah, Marcos Jiminez and Mike Oliver. Peterson is a good journeyman boxer, but not quite in the same class as his brother.
Prediction…
This is another tough fight to call as Mendez has fought better opponents than Peterson has, but has been beaten four times and also stopped once. However, Peterson failed a drug test and it’s hard to know how many wins he earned without being caught. Peterson has the edge in power and that could be the difference maker here.
This could go either way, but Peterson’s power may decide it.
Play: Peterson +108 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Anthony Peterson betting • Argenis Mendez betting