Abraham Perez denied spot on USA Olympic Team after winning trials

The good, the bad and the ugly have always been a term used when defining things in that order.

I’m going to change it around a little when it comes to USA amateur boxing.

The good:

1976: The late Howard Davis Jr. had to defeat the great Thomas Hearns and Aaron Pryor to win the Olympic trials, and represent the United States in the Montreal Olympics. Davis would capture gold and also win the Val Baker Trophy. Defeating two future Hall of Famers, just to make the team, says a lot about how hard it was to represent the United States in the Olympics

The ugly:

Most will never forget the travesty of Roy Jones Jr. dominating Korean Park Si-Hun, only to have the gold medal literally stolen from him in 1988 at the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. The travesty led to the changing of Olympic scoring. Jones Jr. would win the Val Baker Trophy for the best fighter in the tournament, yet it still didn’t change the shame and tainted Olympic boxing.

The bad:

Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Abraham Perez defeated California’s Anthony Herrera twice at the Olympic trials to win the 114-pound division, but it was who Herrera made the team, and Perez was the alternate.

How is that possible you may ask?

USA Boxing has a new method to pick who represents our country by inviting the two finalists to a training camp in Colorado Spring.

So, Herrera was chosen over Perez due to how he looked in training.

There were a few other ways to make the team, but the dubious decisions had already been made. The pandemic postponed the 2020 Olympics in Japan.

Perez was able to travel and get more amateur experiences fighting in other countries in 2020. A few months ago, he decided to turn professional and will make his debut on February 27th in Texas against Mexico’s Caesar Sustaita. Perez is hoping to sign with a major promoter this year.

In not going to the rescheduled 2021 Olympics, Perez felt it would be a good time to become a professional fighter.

“It was time to turn pro, knowing I wouldn’t get to go to the Olympics,” said the 21-year-old Perez. “It was what helped me make it an easier decision to turn pro. I did everything to represent the USA but the way they chose it’s kind of hard even if you win the trials.”

Although most would feel anger and disgust with how the new USA boxing system picks their representative, Perez has remained humble. He has received some feelers from name promoters but will hold off until he and his team do more research to see who’s the best fit.

If the 2021 Olympics happen, Perez will not be there, but he’ll get his chance to show the world he belonged.

“I hope to fight as much as I can, but with the COVID-19 issues it may take time,” Perez said. “I’m always in the gym keeping in shape waiting for the next stage in my boxing career.”