Cuban pro Perez eyes Cork as base

FORMER world amateur heavyweight champion, Mike ‘El Rebellio’ Perez, is set to make Cork the base from which he will challenge the world professional heavyweight title in a dramatic move that is sure to send shockwaves throughout the boxing world.

The 22-year-old Cuban has decided to turn professional and has joined Cork-based ‘Nowhere to Hyde Promotions’. He will train in Cork under the expert eye of Nicholas Cruz Hernandez, the former Cuban great who guided Michael Carruth and Wayne McCullough to their respective gold and silver medals at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

Perez, noted for his power punching, has a decision over the legendary Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz and was hotly-tipped to win the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing this year.