PEREZ FIGHTS GONZALES ON FEB. 22 IN US

By LITO DELOS REYES

(Left to right) manager Rey “Cacoi” Rodis II, Rey “Technician” Perez, trainer Salvador Cassillas and Filipino assistant Jules Tagalog. Below is Mexican-American Christian Gonzales.

Rey “Technician” Perez doing the mitts withh trainer Salvador Casillas while behind them is Filipino assistant Jules Tagalog at the Casillas Boxing Gym.

Rey Perez sparring with undefeated welterweight Saul Rodriguez [21W-0L] of Mayweather Promotions at the Maywood Gym. Behind them are manager Rey “Cacoi” Rodis II [left] and Filipino assistant trainer Jules Tagalog.

FILIPINO pug Rey “Technician” Perez will be fighting again in the United States on February 22 against Mexican-American Christian “Chimpa” Gonzales at the Fantasy Spring Casino in Indio, USA.
The 8-round non-title fight is promoted by Oscar De La Hoya of the Golden Boy Promotions and will be televised by web ESPN3.com and USA ESPN2.
It will be the second outing for Perez (21W-9L-0D, 6 KOs) since he arrived in the US to join the RED Boxing International of new manager Rey “Cacoi” Rodis II.
Perez, however, previously dropped a unanimous decision against unbeaten Lamont Roach last November 30 at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill.
“But Perez fought in the 130 lbs. Masyado siyang napiga noon. Now he will be fighting in the 135 lbs. which he is more comfortable with,” said Rodis.
The 27-year old Perez has been training at Casillas Boxing Gym for two weeks now with trainer Salvador Casillas and Filipino assistant Jules Tagalog.
“Mas malaki ang chance kong manalo ngayon kasi timbang ko na ito 135 lbs.,” said Perez.
Perez, a native of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte has sparred already with thr ee undefeated fighters – NABF Junior super featherweight champion Ryan “Kingry” Garcia (13W-0L-0D), lightweight Saul “Kid Dinaita” Rodriguez (21W-0L-1D, 15 KOs) and welterweight Arnold Barbosa Jr. (17W-0L, 6 KOs) at the Maywood Gym.
“Mas focus ngayon ang trainer sa kanya,” added Rodis.
Perez is a former WBC Youth Silver super bantamweight champion. He won it by stopping Japanese Tatsuya Takahashi via a 10th round technical knockout in 2012.
He fought but lost for the vacant WBC International Silver super bantamweight title against Hugo Fidel Cazares in 2013. Perez also bowed to Andres Gutierrez by a unanimous decision when he challenged the Mexican for his WBC Silver super bantamweight crown on that same year.
Gonzales (18W-1L-0D, 15 KOs ), on the other hand, has won his last two fights since he suffered his only defeat via a 2nd round knockout to another Filipino Romero “Ruthless” Duno for the vacant WBC Youth Intercontinental lightweight title last March 10 at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles.
Gonzales bounced back with a 3rd round knockout win against Daniel Perales last August 10 at Belasco Theater. The 22-year old Mexican previously scored a unanimous against compatriot Gamaliel Diaz last October 26 at the same venue.
Diaz was deducted one point for holding and hitting in round 8 while Gonzales was also cut on his right eye from an accidental headbutt.
Gonzales’ first Filipino opponent was then Philippine super bantamweight champion Jhon “The Disaster” Gemino (13W-6L-1D), who lost by a unanimous in 2016 at the StubHub Center in Carson.
Gemino, however, bounced back from that defeat by knocking out South African Toto Helebhe in Round 2 to win the vacant WBA Inter-Continental super bantamweight title at Emerald Casino, Vanderbijilpark.