SPEED kills. That is the maxim Dominican Republic fighter Argenis Mendez will apply against Cassius Baloyi at Carnival City in Brakpan on Saturday night.

American trainer Lee Peard promised in a press briefing at the Ekurhuleni casino yesterday that his Hispanic charge, who fights out of Brooklyn in New York, will apply speed in their IBF junior lightweight title eliminator.

"This fight will be similar to the WBC fight between Floyd Mayweather and Phillip Ndou, which was about speed," warned the trainer who manned the corners of Joan Guzman and Matthew Hatton against Ali Funeka and Lovemore Ndou, respectively.

Guzman outpointed Funeka, while Ndou retained the IBO welterweight strap via a draw.

"We watched a lot of Baloyi's fights on video and realised that he is a very slow fighter."

This clash will be one of speed versus finesse.

Mendez, 24, is a dexterous fighter who switches from left to right like a ballerina and has unbelievable hand speed. But he is an average puncher with only nine stoppages in 17 wins against one defeat.

"I'm very hungry," admitted the fourth-rated Mendez, who has chalked up five straight wins since losing to Jaime Sandoval on October 3 2008.

Baloyi's new trainer, Gert Strydom, acknowledged Mendez's hand speed but said they "have a plan" to counter it. The third-rated Baloyi, a crafty fighter whose speed has deteriorated, said he prepared well for the fight and will show that on Saturday.

The 36-year-old Limpopo warrior is a former six-time world champion in three weight divisions.

Meanwhile, fans must expect a war of attrition if SA welterweight champion Chris van Heerden and mandatory challenger Boitshpeo Manda can walk the talk.

Reuben Groenewald and Daniel Bruwer were well behaved at the conference.

IBF mini flyweight kingpin Nkosinathi Joyi did not attend. His challenger, Japan's Katsunari Takayama, attended but did not comment. The fights will be presented by Branco Sports Productions.