Perez set to lead Cork’s Havana club on big night
Promoter Gary Hyde has helped him on his way by selecting an unbeaten opponent with six KOs on his card for what could well turn out to be the most exciting professional show staged in the country this year.
Perez is one of three Cuban fighters on the bill — all of whom are based on Leeside — and all three are or have been world junior champions.
In fact the trio have decisions over three of the silver medallists at last month’s Olympic Games in Beijing: Perez came to the notice of Gary Hyde when he out-pointed Ireland’s Kenneth Egan in Liverpool a couple of years ago.
Luis Garcia, who will be operating at super middleweight as a professional, beat Emilio Correo 13-3 at home in Cuba. Correo lost 16-14 to James Degale, Darren Sutherland’s conqueror, in the Olympic final.
And young Alexei Acosta has flyweight Andri Laffita amongst his collection of scalps. Laffita lost to Somjit Tongjohor from Thailand in the final in Beijing but earlier this year he lost 12-2 to Acosta in Cuba.
“It would be safe to say that had they remained back home in Cuba all three of them would have been challenging for places in the Olympics,” Gary Hyde said.
“Cork boxing fans are in for a real treat on Saturday night.”
But there is no doubt whatsoever about the star act which will see Perez step up the ladder to touch gloves with an exciting young Brazilian heavyweight, Claudemir Dias, who has won all of his seven professional fights — six of them by way of knock out.
“I want to show people of Cork what I can do so this is a big opportunity for me,” insisted a bulked-up Perez who will weigh in at his heaviest — 16 stone — for his fifth professional bout against the 17st heavyweight from San Paulo. Perez has prepared while capacity crowd have turned up at his 10-day training camp in a specially-erected marquee behind Gary Hyde’s pub — The Castle — in Glanmire. Up to 200 watched each night as the three Cuban’s took on over a dozen selected sparring partners over the 10 nights.
Amongst them were British heavyweight Julius Francis who boxed Mike Tyson and rated Perez a better fighter than the former world champion.
“Tyson was one-dimensional,” he said. “But this guy is faster and he comes at you from so many ways. It is just impossible to avoid his attacks never mind pin him down. He has speed and he has power.”
It was hardly surprising that Francis packed his bags early for a return home. Scott Gammer — former British heavyweight champion — also found Perez too much of a handful and he arrived in peak condition having just fought Francisco Pianeta.
Perez has introduced a new trainer, Guillermo Silva from Argentina, who has trained world light welterweight champion, Juan Martin Coggi, and the WBA light middleweight champion, Julio Caesar Pasquez, amongst a host of other world ranked boxers.
“We felt that he needed more speed in his performance,” Silva said. “The Caribbean style is very laid back so we have been changing him — taking him along — slowly. He has more speed and he is leaning on his feet and that multiplies his power. He can be a world champion.”
Tony Dunlop from Belfast who is an international coach and was with Andy Lee in Cuba when he won his silver medal at the world junior championships is another important part of the mix.
“I would not be surprised if they were all world champions at the same time,” he said. “This is a very exciting period for professional boxing not just in Cork but in Ireland.”
The undercard for the show dubbed “Celtic Crossing” will also feature the best of the Fighting Irish with undefeated Cork prospect Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan included alongside fellow unbeaten pro’s Jamie Power (Limerick), Michael Sweeney (Mayo) and Ian Tims (Dublin).
As of yesterday there were just 200 of the 1,700 tickets remaining for sale with a huge rush on ticket sales following the training sessions in Glanmire.
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