Photos: Andy Samuelson/Premier Boxing Champions

Former world champion Argenis Mendez (24-5-1, 12 KOs) scored a ten round split decision over WBA #3 lightweight Ivan Redkach (20-3-1, 16 KOs) on Tuesday night at the Sportsmans Lodge, Studio City, California. It was a tactical first round with Redkach having a slight edge over Mendez. In round three, Redkach was deducted a point for rabbit punching. Redkach appeared to knock down Mendez twice but referee Raul Caiz Jr. ruled it a slip both times. Mendez came on ahead in the later rounds as Redkach faded. Scores were 96-93, 95-94 for Mendez, 95-94 for Redkach.

Ivan Redkach: “The judges were wrong. I won that fight. I felt that I knocked him down and the referee didn’t call it and he took the point away and that cost me. I never felt any pain. I fought like I wanted to and I thought I did enough. They were wrong. This was my night.”

Argenis Mendez: “I used my skill and my speed throughout the fight, but I waited to come forward until the fourth or fifth round. I knew he wasn’t going to be able to knock me out because I have great defense. I see every punch. I definitely slipped both times I went down. He didn’t even hit me. Ivan is a tough warrior. He throws a lot of wild punches and he hit me in the back of the head several times. I thought the scorecards were too close. I thought I won by a much larger margin.”

Unbeaten super bantamweight prospect Brandon Figueroa (12-0, 8 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over Luis Fernando Saavedra (7-3, 3 KOs). Figueroa, brother of former world champion Omar Figueroa, constantly pressured his opponent Saavedra in a tactical fight. Scores were 78-74, 79-73, 79-73.

Bantamweight Jonathan Arturo Torres (8-5-1, 2 KOs) scored a six round unanimous decision over brother of Leo Santa Cruz, Antonio Santa Cruz (5-3, 2 KOs). In a battle that could have gone both ways, Santa Cruz and Torres came out swinging from round one. Scores were 58-56, 59-55, 60-54.