Zambo boxing champ now in US for training

Former World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth Silver super bantamweight champion Rey “Sindangan Technician/Flash” Perez (Photo: Rey Padilla Perez/Facebook)

DAVAO CITY — Former World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth Silver super bantamweight champion Rey “Sindangan Technician/Flash” Perez of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte has joined the Red Boxing International in the United States.

Perez arrived last week in Los Angeles and was welcomed by his new manager Rey “Cacoi” Rodis II and stablemate Recky “The Terror” Dulay, who is now rated No. 8 super featherweight contender by the World Boxing Association.

The 27-year-old Perez is now undergoing training under chief trainer Emil Romano and assistant Jules Tagalog at the Leo Santa Cruz Gym in Los Angeles.

Perez won the vacant WBC Youth Silver super bantamweight title by stopping Japanese Tatsuya Takahashi by a 10th round technical knockout in 2012 in Santa Rosa City.

Perez, who was formerly managed by Ariel Araja in Laguna, scored a 2nd round technical knockout win against Noel Adelmita in Dipolog City last June 4.

“Pero wala na ko sa dati kong manager noon huling laban ko (But I did not have my manager before),” Perez said.

“Masaya po ako dito sa bago kong manager. Maganda naman po ang plano ni Boss Cacoi sa akin (I’m happy here with my new manager. Boss Cacoi’s plans are good for me),” he said.

“Gusto ko lang gumanda ang takbo ng pagbo-boxing ko (I just want to improve my boxing trend),” said Perez, who has a record of 21 wins with six knockouts against eight losses and no draw.

Perez, a native of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, however, suffered six of his eight defeats abroad against foreign rivals.

Before he previously scored a second-round technical knockout win against Noel Adelmita last June 4, Perez suffered back-to-back defeats from the hands of Chris Avalos (UD at Chris Avalos in Fs5) and Jessie Magdaleno (7th round KO on February 2016).

“Ibang klase mag handle ng boxer pala ni Boss Cacoi. Inaalagaan nya talaga kami dito (Boss Cacoi differently handles his boxers. He really cares for us here),” said Perez, who had experienced for the first time of having his own personalized mouthpiece.

Perez’ mouthpiece was personally fit and made by the world-famous Mouthpiece Guy, who also created the mouthpieces of many famous boxers and fighters. Among them are Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley, “Viscious” Victor Ortiz, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Nonito “The Flash” Donaire, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Andre Berto, Zab “Super” Judah, Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan, Chris Algieri and Filipino-American MMA heavyweight champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera.

“Pinasukatan nya po ako ng aking mouthpiece dito agad. First time ko pong naranasan na sukatan ng mouthpiece talaga sa buong buhay ko (I was fitted immediately of my mouthpiece here. It’s my first time to have experienced a mouthpiece measure throughout my life,” said Perez, who became a pro boxer in 2009 by beating Kosta Luzarito via a split decision in Santa Rosa City.

Perez went on to win 10 straight victories and the last one was a split decision against Danilo Pena to capture the Philippine super flyweight title on May 11, 2011.

Perez finally suffered his first defeat from the hands of Japanese Nobuo Nashiro by a unanimous decision on July 30, 2011 in Osaka, Japan. Perez bounced back with four straight wins including a 10th round technical knockout victory against Japan’s Tatsuya Takahasi to capture the vacant WBC Youth Silver super bantamweight title in 2012.

Perez, however, then suffered two straight setbacks in his next outings both held in Mexico in 2013. He dropped a UD against Mexican Hugo Fidel Cazares for the vacant WBC International Silver super bantamweight title then to Andres Gutierrez for the WBC Silver super bantamweight crown.

“I’m confident that Perez still has a bright future if given a chance here in the US,” said Rodis, a grandson of the late boxing promoter-manager Antonio Almirante and nephew of former WBC World super featherweight champion Rene Barrientos (39W-7L-2D, 14KOs).

Rodis’ father Rey Sr. is also a former boxing promoter in Cagayan de Oro City.