Mendy vs. Madni December 16 In France

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.