Mike Perez the talented Cuban who now lives in Cork, Ireland is a boxer I know all too well as I trained him as an unbeaten heavyweight prospect, along with excellent fighters Alexei Acosta and Luis Garcia, but disappointed and frustrated at their total lack of desire and any semblance of a work ethic I let them go.
Yes I must be the first trainer that has ever turned his back on 3 World amateur boxing stars, but I demand hard work and commitment from any fighter.
Perez, unlike the others, did splutter on with his career till being smashed to defeat by the soon to be disgraced Alexander Povetkin in 2015 which looked a shameful end to a once promising career.
Imagine my surprise to see him pop up looking terrifically fit and ripped smashing out Victor Biscak who was quickly dispatched all be it by an injury at Cruiserweight in June this year. It certainly looks like the penny has finally dropped for Perez and he has been thrown an undeserved career lifeline in the very high quality Super Series this Saturday when he challenges WBC Cruiserweight champion Maris Briedis.
Perez maybe undeserving but the challenge is a very tough one indeed Latvian Briedis has done nothing wrong in his career thus far.
He is undefeated in 22 bouts, 18 knockouts including at heavyweight over Manuel Charr and a 3 round demolition of the Northeasts tough Simon Vallily last year, before becoming his nations first World Champion when he comprehensively beat Marco Huck on points for the WBC title in April this year.
This will be his first defence in the Riga arena, in his home country on Saturday evening and he will be eager to impress.
Briedis boxes well, and can punch but it’s his workrate that could be the key. Perez has worked hard to make Cruiserweight but cuts a bulky and muscular pose and making the weight could well have taken its toll.
Look for Briedis to get into his rhythm taking the fight to Perez who may well have his moments boxing from a crouch behind his southpaw stance and will be looking to unload with a big punch and catch the champion whose defence and chin I must say look fairly sound.
I’m expecting an impressive performance from Briedis who’s determined persistence may we’ll just break the Cuban Perez’s temperamental spirit in the late rounds of an entertaining fight.
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