Mike Perez (boxer)
| Mike Perez | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics | |||||||||||
| Real name | Ismaikel Pérez | ||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | The Rebel | ||||||||||
| Weight(s) |
Cruiserweight Heavyweight | ||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||||||||||
| Reach | 76 in (193 cm) | ||||||||||
| Nationality | Cuban | ||||||||||
| Born |
20 October 1985 Sancti Spíritus, Cuba | ||||||||||
| Stance | Southpaw | ||||||||||
| Boxing record | |||||||||||
| Total fights | 27 | ||||||||||
| Wins | 23 | ||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 15 | ||||||||||
| Losses | 3 | ||||||||||
| Draws | 1 | ||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=icon}
Ismaikel "Mike" Perez (born 20 October 1985) is a Cuban professional boxer competing as a cruiserweight.[1]
Background
Perez was a successful amateur boxer in Cuba. In 2005, while competing with the Cuban team at a tournament in Liverpool, he caught the eye of Irish boxing promoter Gary Hyde. Hyde later expressed his desire to turn Perez professional, and to do that he had to arrange his defection from Cuba. In December 2007, under cover of darkness, Perez swam offshore from Cuba, to a boat manned by a Mexican cartel. After transferring through two other boats, enduring storms and depleted food and water supplies, Perez eventually reached Mexican soil nine days later. The Cartel then held him there, until they secured final payment from organizer, Gary Hyde. Upon receiving it, Perez was released, allowing him to board a flight to his new home. On January 10, 2008, Perez touched down in Ireland, where he settled in Cork along with fellow Cubans Alexei Acosta and Luis Garcia. Today, he fights under the nickname Mike "The Rebel" Perez, in reference to Cork which is known as the "Rebel County".[2][3]
Amateur career
Perez had over 400 amateur bouts. In 2004, he won gold at the World Junior Championships in Jeju City, South Korea. The southpaw beat Englishman Danny Price in the semifinals, before defeating Russian fighter Nikolay Pavlyukov 38-16 in the final. Perez later beat fighters such as Kenneth Egan and Constantin Bejenaru, but moved up to 201 lbs and initially struggled against world class competition like Luis Ortiz, who beat him in 2006 to become the Cuban national champion. Perez avenged that loss in the 2007 championships, but lost to Osmay Acosta in that year's final.
Professional career
Early career
In 2008, Perez turned professional under Cuban coach Nicholas Cruz Hernández, who had also moved to Ireland in 1988.
On 7 May 2011, Perez won the International Prizefighter tournament, held in London, England. Perez faced Kertson Manswell and Gregory Tony, before defeating American fighter Tye Fields in the final to take home the £32,000 prize. After the fight, Perez stated the victory would earn him a world title shot in the near future.[4][5]
He then fought and won against American journeyman Zack Page in a rematch on November 9, 2011, in York Hall, Bethnal Green, London.[6]
Perez made his United States debut on 30 December 2011, against the Nigerian heavyweight boxer Friday Ahunanya. The location for the fight was Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California. Perez won a unanimous decision, by winning all of the rounds, on the judges' scorecards.[7]
After a hiatus through 2012, Perez returned to the ring in May 2013. On the undercard of Wladimir Klitschko vs. Francesco Pianeta, he met American fighter Travis Walker. After 10 rounds, he took the win by way of unanimous decision.
Perez vs. Abdusalomov and aftermath
On November 2, 2013, he made his HBO debut against Magomed Abdusalomov at Madison Square Garden. Perez won by unanimous decision after a brutally-fought 10 rounds.[8] The fight left Abdusalamov permanently and severely injured, as he suffered a stroke and had to go into a medically-induced coma before surgery.[9] Abdusalamov's family later sued the New York State Athletic Commission due to negligence. The lawsuit ended with a $22 million dollar settlement.[10] Perez's form dipped after this fight, as he drew and lost many of his next fights. He would later reveal that he struggled with alcoholism during this time, to the point of getting into the ring drunk a few times.[11]
Perez returned on January 18, 2014 to fight Carlos Takam at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Takam and Perez fought to a majority draw. The fight was shown on HBO on the Pascal vs Bute under card.[12]
Perez then lost a narrow split decision to Bryant Jennings on July 2014 on scores of 114-113 and 115-112 for Jennings and 113-114 for Perez. Referee Harvey Dock controversially deducted a point from Perez in the final round.[13]
On May 22, 2015 Perez was brutally knocked out by Alexander Povetkin 91 seconds into a WBC heavyweight title eliminator. Following the loss to Povetkin, Perez spent over two years away from the ring, before returning in 2017 as a cruiserweight.
World Boxing Super Series
On July 6, Perez was announced as the final entrant to the cruiserweight World Boxing Super Series.[14]
Perez vs. Briedis
At the Draft Gala, which took place on July 8 in Monte Carlo, Perez was chosen by WBC champion Mairis Briedis as his quarter final opponent.[15] On July 22, the WBSS announced the fight would take place in Briedis' home country of Latvia at the Riga Arena in Riga on September 30, 2017. This would be the 8th time Briedis fights at the arena.[16][17]
Briedis won a scrappy fight in his hometown, beating Mike Perez by unanimous decision after 12 rounds (116-110, 115-111, 114-112). Perez was deducted a point in round 3 following an accidental headbutt. Briedis was also docked a point during round 10 for excessive holding. With the win, Briedis moves on to the semifinals to face top-seeded Oleksandr Usyk.[18]
Professional cruiserweight career to date
Cruiserweight
At the Draft Gala, which took place on July 8 in Monte Carlo, Perez was chosen by WBC champion Mairis Briedis as his quarter final opponent. On July 22, the WBSS announced the fight would take place in Briedis' home country of Latvia at the Riga Arena in Riga on September 30, 2017. This would be the 8th time Briedis fights at the arena.
Briedis won a scrappy fight in his hometown, beating Mike Perez by unanimous decision after 12 rounds (116-110, 115-111, 114-112). Perez was deducted a point in round 3 following an accidental headbutt. Briedis was also docked a point during round 10 for excessive holding. With the win, Briedis moves on to the semifinals to face top-seeded Oleksandr Usyk.
Personal life
Perez resides in Cork, Ireland with his wife Camille.
Professional boxing record
| Professional record summary | ||
| 27 fights | 23 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 15 | 1 |
| By decision | 8 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | N/A | N/A |  |
N/A | – (10) | Oct 20, 2018 |  |
|
| 27 | Win | 23–3–1 |  |
TKO | 1 (8), 0:30 | 17 Feb 2018 |  |
|
| 26 | Loss | 22–3–1 |  |
UD | 12 | 30 Sep 2017 | |
For WBC cruiserweight title; World Boxing Super Series: cruiserweight quarter-finals |
| 25 | Win | 22–2–1 |  |
KO | 1 (6), 0:29 | 10 Jun 2017 |  |
|
| 24 | Loss | 21–2–1 |  |
KO | 1 (12), 1:31 | 22 May 2015 | |
For WBC Silver heavyweight title |
| 23 | Win | 21–1–1 | |
TKO | 2 (8), 0:59 | 5 Feb 2015 | |
|
| 22 | Loss | 20–1–1 | |
SD | 12 | 26 Jul 2014 | |
|
| 21 | Draw | 20–0–1 |  |
MD | 10 | 18 Jan 2014 |  |
|
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | |
UD | 10 | 2 Nov 2013 | |
Won USNBC heavyweight title |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | |
UD | 10 | 4 May 2013 |  |
|
| 18 | Win | 18–0 |  |
UD | 10 | 30 Dec 2011 | |
|
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | |
PTS | 8 | 9 Nov 2011 | |
|
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | |
TKO | 1 (3), 0:42 | 7 May 2011 | |
Prizefighter 18 final |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | |
TKO | 1 (3), 0:54 | 7 May 2011 | |
Prizefighter 18 semi-final |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 |  |
UD | 3 | 7 May 2011 | |
Prizefighter 18 quarter-final |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | .svg.png){kind=small} |
PTS | 8 | 4 Mar 2011 | |
|
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | |
TKO | 1 (6), 1:41 | 6 Nov 2010 | |
|
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | |
KO | 1 (8), 2:40 | 26 Jun 2010 | |
|
| 10 | Win | 10–0 |  |
TKO | 3 (4), 1:48 | 15 May 2010 | |
|
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | |
TKO | 1 (4), 0:48 | 15 May 2010 | |
|
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | |
PTS | 8 | 28 Feb 2009 | |
|
| 7 | Win | 7–0 |  |
KO | 2 (6), 0:22 | 17 Jan 2009 | |
|
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | |
TKO | 1 (6), 1:24 | 26 Oct 2008 | |
|
| 5 | Win | 5–0 |  |
KO | 1 (8), 0:22 | 13 Sep 2008 | |
|
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | |
TKO | 1 (4), 1:27 | 12 Apr 2008 | |
|
| 3 | Win | 3–0 |  |
PTS | 6 | 22 Mar 2008 | |
|
| 2 | Win | 2–0 |  |
TKO | 1 (4), 0:41 | 2 Feb 2008 | |
|
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | |
TKO | 1 (4), 1:35 | 26 Jan 2008 | |
References
- ↑ "Mike Perez: from Cuba to Ireland to NYC for HBO debut - "I'm Irish now"". The Ring. July 2014.
- ↑ "Rebel Rising – Cork's Mike Perez". Pundit Arena. July 2014.
- ↑ "The Cuban boxer from Cork who is one win away from a world title shot". The Cuban boxer from Cork who is one win away from a world title shot. July 2014.
- ↑ "Perez powers to victory". SkySports.
- ↑ "Mike Perez". BoxRec. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- ↑ "BoxRec - Mike Perez". boxrec.com.
- ↑ Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Scott Christ. "Golovkin vs Stevens results: Mike Perez wins brutal decision over Magomed Abdusalamov". Bad Left Hook.
- ↑ Tim Smith. "Mike Perez: Title Shot Ahead, Disabled Foe Behind". Bleacher Report.
- ↑ https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/9/8/16279100/boxer-gets-record-22-million-settlement-from-new-york-in-brain-injury-case
- ↑ http://www.irish-boxing.com/getting-ring-drunk-mike-perez-reveals-demons-tragic-mago-fight/
- ↑ "Mike Perez-Carlos Takam on Pascal-Bute Undercard - Boxing News". boxingscene.com.
- ↑ https://www.badlefthook.com/2014/7/26/5941007/jennings-vs-perez-results-bryant-jennings-grabs-split-decision-win-on
- ↑ http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2017/07/06/news/avni-yildrim-robert-brant-added-to-wbss-168-tourney-mike-perez-completes-cruiser-line-up
- ↑ "Usyk-Huck, Groves-Cox headline Super Series". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
- ↑ "Mairis Briedis-Mike Perez set for September 30 - The Ring". The Ring. 2017-07-22. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
- ↑ "Mairis Briedis vs. Mike Perez on September 30 in Latvia - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
- ↑ http://www.boxingscene.com/mairis-briedis-decisions-mike-perez-set-fight-usyk-next--120978
External links
- Professional boxing record for Mike Perez from BoxRec
- Amateur record at the Wayback Machine (archived October 26, 2009)
- Bleacher Report - The Top 10 Heavyweight Prospects in the World