Powerful Perez performs Rebel demolition

TWENTY seconds and one punch — that was all it took for Mike “The Rebel” Perez to demolish the 19 stone Brazilian, Claudemir Diaz, at Neptune Stadium on Saturday night.

The 1,600 fans were just settling into their seats for what promoter, Gary Hyde, had hoped would be a few rounds of magic from Perez — one of three Cuban-born fighters on the bill — and some might have missed the punch.

For the record it was an explosive left uppercut from Perez that sent the Brazilian crashing to the canvas and it was clear he was never going to beat the count.

“The uppercut was a perfect punch,” Perez said. “I was hoping the opponent would last a bit more but that’s boxing and anything can happen any moment.

“In boxing — especially against an opponent who is unbeaten — if you get the opportunity you take it. I want to win all my fights. I want to win a world title. I know that is a very long way off but I promise I will win the world title in a couple of years.”

Promoter Gary Hyde admitted he was disappointed with the fact that the fight did not go a few rounds.

“I said before the fight I had reservations about the athleticism and fitness of Diaz and I will accept that,” he said. “But I think that there are very few heavyweights would have remained standing from the punch Perez threw.

“It is quite obvious we will have to start looking for serious opponents for this man. He will box in Killarney on the October Bank Holiday weekend and we are trying to get Marty Rogan for that fight. I know Rogan has a hand injury at the moment but he has plenty of time to recover. That would be a great fight. He has sparred Perez in the past.”

The fans have warmed to the three Cubans based in Cork.

Super middleweight Luis Garcia found a plucky opponent in Martins Kukuls from Latvia and he delivered some lovely shots before unleashing a vicious attack that put Kukuls on the floor two minutes into the third round, giving referee David Irving no option but to stop the fight.

Young Alexi Acosta also produced flashes of sheer brilliance before he put Bulgarian featherweight, Krastan Krastanov down with two perfectly placed left hooks to the head to end the fight two minutes into the second round.

“All the Cubans were good tonight,” Hyde said. “They have everything. We have loved the Cubans for years — we followed Teofilio Stevenson, we watched Nicholas (Cruz) train Michael Carruth to an Olympic gold medal — we are just in love with the Cubans.

“Now we have three exciting young fighters in our own hands on our own patch in Cork and it is just beautiful to watch them.”

Cork light middleweight Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan was the main supporting act against Sergejs Volodins (Latvia) and had his fans on their feet and his man on the floor with two perfectly placed right hands to the head early in the first round. And Limerick light heavyweight Jamie Power stopped Slovak Stevan Stanko, after 49 seconds of the third round.