Perez ready for ring return

Cork boxer Mike ‘The Rebel’ Perez has opened up about his agonising few months following his defeat of Magomed Abdusalamov in November which left the Russian in a critical condition in hospital.

Perez, of Cuban origin but living in Cork for over two decades, claimed an impressive ten-round win at Madison Square Garden but after the fight Abdusalamov underwent emergency surgery for swelling on his brain.

For weeks, Abdusalamov teetered on the brink of life and death. He has since been moved to a rehab facility and is expected to survive, but he’ll never fight again.