Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi - In a super lightweight contest, former world champion Argenis Mendez (25-5-1, 12 KOs) made his debut at the weight limit of 140-pounds and dropped Eddie Ramirez (17-2, 11 KOs) four times to secure a ten round unanimous decision. The scores were 98-88, 97-89 and 99-87.
After a close first round, the entire fight changed in the second round.
During the second, Ramirez was pushing the action - and Mendez landed a big uppercut, following by a few more shots, that put Ramirez down. He got up in serious trouble, but there wasn't enough time left for Mendez to finish him off.
At the start of the third, Mendez went right after Ramirez with big, accurate shots from both hands. And eventually a shot put Ramirez down for a second time. Once again Ramirez survived.
After Ramirez began to come back in the fourth - there was more disaster in the fifth round.
During the fifth, Mendez threw a big hook to the body that sent Ramirez down. He got back up, but then a big combination sent him down for a fourth time in the bout. He barely made it to the bell.
At the start of the sixth, Mendez went after Ramirez looking for the finish - but it was Ramirez who started swinging back with both hands and was backing Mendez up. Mendez was covering up very well and countering as well.
Ramirez did well in the seventh round, pressing forward and throwing good punches to have Mendez on the defensive. He continued to do very well in the eight, as Mendez was either slowing down or taking things easy because he was very far ahead on the cards.
They were trading punches in the ninth, as Ramirez was shaken up again. This Mendez could not put him down and Ramirez continued to make it a close round.
In the tenth, Mendez was boxing and Ramirez was putting his punches together to change the round around for the moment. Mendez began to land some solid punches that shook Ramirez up again. Ramirez stayed on his feet and showed heart in making it to the final bell.
For Ramirez, it was his first fight since a stunning first round knockout loss at the hands of Antonio DeMarco in October 2017.
Mendez was coming off an upset ten round decision win over Ivan Redkach.
Heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba (5-0, 5 KOs), who is trained by Ronnie Shields, scored a very scary first round knockout over Dell Long (5-3-2).
The first big shot put Long to sleep. He was out cold and down for a few moments.
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