Rances Barthelemy (born 25 June 1986) is a Cuban professional boxer. He is a former two-weight world champion, having held the IBF junior lightweight title in 2014, and the IBF lightweight title from 2015 to 2016.
Amateur career
Barthelemy was a standout amateur, competing in more than 200 fights and winning a Cuban junior national championship.
Barthelemy defected to the United States prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics. He left Cuba over frustration with how his brother Yan’s career was developing and the implications that it could have for his own future in the sport.
Professional career Barthelemy defeated Arash Usmanee on 4 January 2013 by a controversial twelve-round unanimous decision which many observers thought Usmanee had won and became the #2 contender for the IBF junior lightweight title. Barthelemy would later become the #1 contender by defeating Fahsai Sakkreerin on 21 June 2013 by second-round knockout.
Barthelemy originally defeated Argenis Mendez on 3 January 2014 to win the title, 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 30 January 2014, the result was changed to a no decision and Mendez was reinstated as the IBF junior lightweight champion. Barthelemy later defeated Mendez in a rematch on 10 July 2014 via unanimous decision to win the title. He vacated his title in February 2015 in anticipation of moving up in weight category.
In his next contest, fighting in the super lightweight division against Antonio DeMarco at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 21 June 2015, Barthelemy gained a convincing victory. Barthelemy showed his versatility early, coming out orthodox before switching up to southpaw midway throughout the first round. Barthelemy scored a knockdown with a huge left in the fourth round, but DeMarco survived the round. Barthelemy lost a point in the ninth round for excessive low blows, but it wasn’t enough to affect the outcome as he won 99–89 on all three cards.
On 20 May 2017, Barthelemy fought Kiryl Relikh in a WBA eliminator. Both fighters exchanged knockdowns in the fight, The judges scored the fight in favor of Barthelemy, 117-109, 116-110 and 115-111 the decision was seen as controversial. Shortly after the fight, the WBA ordered a rematch.
In the rematch, Relikh managed to get his revenge, clearly being the better man on the night, and getting the unanimous decision victory, while also winning the vacant WBA super lightweight title.
On 27 April 2019, Barthelemy fought Robert Easter Jr for the vacant WBA interim super lightweight title. In a very uneventful match, neither fighter looked like they deserve the win. The judges scored the fight as a split-draw, leaving both fighter without the secondary WBA belt.
On April 27, 2024 in Fresno, CA, Barthelemy was scheduled to face Jose Ramirez. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Barthelemy lost via knockout in the fourth round against Frank Martin at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on December 6, 2025.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes36LossFrank MartinKO4 (10), Dec 06, 2025 35LossJosé RamírezUD1227 Apr 2024 34Win30–2–1 Omar Juarez1013 May 2023 33Loss29–2–1 Gary Antuanne RussellTKO6 (10), 30 Jul 2022 32Win29–1–1 Gustavo David VittoriTKO2 (8), 6 Nov 2021 31Win28–1–1 All RiveraUD1030 Jan 2021 30Draw27–1–1 Robert Easter Jr.1227 Apr 2019 29Win27–1 Robert FrankelTKO3 (10), 22 Dec 2018 28Loss26–1 Kiryl RelikhUD12 10 Mar 2018 27Win26–0 Kiryl RelikhUD12 20 May 2017 26Win25–0 Mickey Bey12 3 Jun 2016 25Win24–0 Denis ShafikovUD12 18 Dec 2015 24Win23–0 Antonio DeMarcoUD10 20 Jun 2015 23Win22–0 Angino PerezTKO2 (10), 26 Mar 2015 22Win21–0 David SaucedoUD12 4 Oct 2014 21Win20–0 Argenis MendezUD12 10 Jul 2014 2019–0 Argenis MendezKO2 (12), 3 Jan 2014 19Win19–0 Fahsai SakkreerinKO2 (12), 21 Jun 2013 18Win18–0 Arash UsmaneeUD12 4 Jan 2013 17Win17–0 Alejandro RodríguezUD8 18 Aug 2012 16Win16–0 Robert OsiobeUD8 11 May 2012 15Win15–0 Hylon Williams, Jr.UD8 3 Feb 2012 14Win14–0 Alejandro BarreraKO2 (6), 5 Nov 2011 13Win13–0 Gerardo RoblesUD8 29 Jul 2011 12Win12–0 Rynell GriffinTKO2 (8), 29 Apr 2011 11Win11–0 James HopeTKO4 (6), 25 Mar 2011 10Win10–0 Anthony WoodsTKO2 (6), 11 Feb 2011 9Win9–0 Roberto AcevedoTKO1 (6), 19 Nov 2010 8Win8–0 Àngel LópezTKO3 (6), 15 Sep 2010 7Win7–0 John TempleTKO1 (6), 18 Aug 2010 6Win6–0 John BarnesKO1 (4), 30 Jul 2010 5Win5–0 James OwensUD4 14 May 2010 4Win4–0 Robert Guillen412 Mar 2010 3Win3–0 Andrew Barnes1 (4), 10 Oct 2009 2Win2–0 Vineash RungeaKO1 (4), 28 Aug 2009 1Win1–0 Jamal Clay1 (4), 8 Aug 2009
See also List of super-featherweight boxing champions List of lightweight boxing champions
References
External links
Rances Barthelemy - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live