Autumn Classic 2026: Three Wilner Mendez Fighters Ready for Their Toughest Test in Hartford
Baca dalam 60 detik
- Tiga petarung binaan Wilner Mendez Boxing akan tampil dalam kartu CES Boxing Autumn Classic 2026 di Hartford, Connecticut, 3 Oktober mendatang.
- Pelatih Wilner Mendez menegaskan bahwa pertarungan sulit adalah bagian dari strategi untuk menguji mental dan kualitas anak asuhnya.
- Douglas Marroquin, Victor Guerra Vargas, dan Terrence Williams masing-masing menghadapi lawan dengan rekor impresif, menjadikan ajang ini panggung pembuktian bagi gym asal Norwalk.
CES Boxing will stage Autumn Classic 2026 at the Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, on Saturday, October 3. Three fighters from Wilner Mendez Boxing—Douglas “El Uno” Marroquin, Victor Guerra Vargas, and Terrence Williams—are scheduled to appear in six-round bouts expected to be closely contested.
For Mendez, matching his charges against tough opponents is no accident. The coach from Mexico City believes easy fights bring no meaningful progress. “We don’t want an easy fight. Fighting lower-level fighters won’t make us better,” he said. “I tell them, no matter if the opponent is undefeated or how tough he is, show how much you want it.”
Mendez is no stranger to boxing. A former professional with an undefeated record in three bouts, he knows well how hard it is to build a career without proper guidance. After more than 60 amateur fights, he turned professional at 26. But family responsibilities during the pandemic shifted his focus: building a gym to provide the opportunities he once struggled to get.
The gym, now based in Norwalk, began as a small studio behind his house. In 2023, he opened a permanent location that has become a base for three professionals and a number of amateurs. “I didn’t find the mentor I needed at the right time, when I was young and hungry,” Mendez recalled. “So I decided to give them everything I know.”
Marroquin, a middleweight from Stamford, is the spearhead. In three years as a professional, he has beaten four previously undefeated opponents. Now he faces Gurguliani, a 35-year-old veteran with twice the experience. “I’m 11-0, and four undefeated fighters came trying to take my record,” Marroquin said. “That rarely happens. I’m proud, but also grateful to God, my coach, and everyone who supports me.”
Marroquin’s aggressive style and fondness for attacking the body from close range are expected to trouble Gurguliani. Even so, he is not taking him lightly. “I know this will be a war. He’s strong and his punches are hard. But diamonds are made under pressure, right? We’ll see who the diamond is.”
At welterweight, Victor Guerra Vargas will face a stylistic challenge from Darian “The Untouchable” Castro, a Cuban southpaw based in Las Vegas. Vargas, 28, acknowledges Castro’s speed and agility, but he has prepared. “He’s a great fighter with high speed. He moves a lot and is hard to hit, but that’s what we’ve trained for,” he said. Vargas plans to apply the lessons from his win over Raheem Davis: attack the body and slow his opponent’s movement. “We can’t rush for the knockout. We have to follow the plan.”
Meanwhile, Terrence Williams faces the toughest test on paper. With a 1-1 record, he meets the unbeaten Michael “The Savage” Kimbel (9-0, 6 KO). Williams, 35, is the nephew of former WBA super welterweight champion Travis Simms. After a hiatus from boxing to focus on a career outside the sport, he returned because he did not want regrets. “I can’t live with regret. I don’t want to sit and think, ‘What if?’” he said.
Rejoining Mendez, a former amateur gym mate, gave him the direction he had been seeking. “Without him, I’d be lost on proper guidance and how to navigate the boxing world,” Williams admitted. He is determined to use his height and speed advantages to beat Kimbel. “I always want to challenge myself because I know I’m great. Boxing is about being smart.”
Despite their different styles and backgrounds, the three support one another throughout training camp. Marroquin’s body attacks help Vargas and Williams practice close-range exchanges, while Williams’s speed gives Vargas a picture of facing Castro. Mendez is optimistic. “They’re all tough fights. I think Douglas will brawl more. Victor’s opponent will be tricky, he has to cut the ring and press. Terrence faces a 9-0 fighter, but he’s ready. I can’t wait to see that fight. I’m confident all three will have their hands raised.”
For Indonesian boxing fans, the story of Mendez and his three fighters mirrors the struggles of many athletes at home who often have to fight without the support of an established system. The spirit of not choosing easy opponents and challenging oneself on the international stage is a valuable lesson, especially for young boxers who aspire to break into global competition. The question is, will the courage to take such risks also become a culture among Indonesian boxers?
