Mendes’s record puts Etches on his guard

The 22-year-old middleweight will defend his IBF Youth title against Brazilian fighter Alexandre Mendes in a match-up on October 26 at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena that is unlikely to need the judges to adjudicate.

Mendes, while being something of an unknown quantity, has a record of 10 wins with nine stoppages, while Etches has halted 10 of his 12 professional opponents.

“I don’t know much about him but with a record like that he can clearly punch,” said Etches, who has recently returned to original trainer Andy Marlow.

“Anyone who follows boxing knows that in your early career you fight people who know how to survive, so for him to be knocking them out shows he must be good.

“Obviously, I’ll be the favourite, but I’ll have to be on my guard and make sure I bring my A game.

“I want to be fighting people like Chris Eubank Jnr and Billy Joe Saunders so I can’t afford to slip up in this fight.”

Mendes said: “Etches is obviously a good boxer, but I’m not travelling all the way to England to lose.”