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Rances Barthelemy is the new IBF super-featherweight champion after a unanimous points win over Argenis Mendez in Miami.

Bathelemy improved his record to 20-0 after all three judges scored the fight 115-111 in favour of the Cuban.

Barthelemy had beaten Mendez back in January via a second round stoppage only for the decision to be changed to a “no contest” after replays confirmed the fight-ending combination had come after the bell.

There was no such controversy this time, although the margin of victory could have been greater for Barthelemy however he was deducted points in the ninth and 10th rounds for low blows.

This was a difficult fight, Barthelemy said. I faced an Argenis Mendez, who risked it all to keep his title. Thankfully, I knew how to overcome all obstacles.

Pressure

Mendez, who beat Mexico’s Juan Carlos Salgado for the title in March 2013, was under pressure for long periods of the fight.

He did enjoy a mini-revival in the seventh and eighth rounds, but Barthelemy finished strongly to claim the belt.

On the undercard at the American Airlines Arena, Jeff Lacy and Edison Miranda both suffered loses..

Lacy, who held the IBF super-middleweight belt before being beaten by Joe Calzaghe, was stopped in the second round by Umberto Savigne, while two-time world title challenger Miranda was outclassed over 10 rounds by undefeated Cuban cruiserweight Yunier Dorticos.

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