Rances Barthelemy (born 25 June 1986 in Cuba) is a Cuban professional boxer and the current IBF Super Featherweight Champion.
Barthelemy defeated Arash Usmanee on January 4, 2013 by a controversial twelve round unanimous decision which many observers thought Usmanee had won and became the #2 contender for the IBF Super Featherweight title. Barthelemy would later become the #1 contender by defeating Fahsai Sakkreerin on June 21, 2013 by second round knockout.
Barthelemy originally defeated Argenis Mendez on January 3, 2014 to win the title,[3] but the win was considered controversial, as Barthelemy knocked Mendez out seconds after the bell to signal the end of the second round came.
Mendez and his team filled an appeal to the Minnesota Combative Sports Commission and IBF shortly after the fight, and after the appeal was successful on January 30, 2014, the result was changed to a no decision and Mendez was reinstated as the IBF Super Featherweight champion. Barthelemy later defeated Mendez in a rematch on July 10, 2014 via unanimous decision to win the title.
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On October 4, 2014 Barthelemy (21-0, 12 KOs), unbeaten he put on a boxing clinic for 12 full rounds in the first defense of his junior lightweight, outclassed Argentine veteran Fernando Saucedo from start to finish and was never in danger en route to a shutout decision at Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort and Casino. All three judges scored the fight 120-108.
The negative reaction on social media to the fight’s lack of entertainment — along with a large number of fans headed for the exits early — did little to deter Barthelemy.
“Boxing is a style matchup. I’m used to banging out and putting on a war when I need to and I am used to boxing when necessary. If the fans feel like that, I apologize,” he said.
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The Cuban History, Hollywood.
Arnoldo Varona, Editor.