Abraham Perez wins IBA flyweight title

Abraham Perez captured the IBA Vacant flyweight world title, with a ninth-round stoppage over Luis Villa Padilla, Saturday night in Albuquerque, NM.

Perez, the 2022 Olympic trials winner, was in total control from the opening round using his speed and angles to avoid Padilla’s left hooks to the body. Perez used his jab to get closer to Padilla. When he was there he landed quick right-hand leads followed by uppercuts.

The fight continued to follow the same script, with Perez in control and dominating each round. In the eighth round, Perez caught Padilla with a hard right, which staggered the tough Padilla. Perez went in for the kill, landing hard rights and lefts to the body. Padilla withstood the challenge.

Perez trapped Padilla in the corner in round nine and landed punches freely. Padilla’s corner threw in the towel, giving Perez the victory and the title.

After the fight Padilla, who fell to 15-5, stated Perez was the best he has fought to date, this after losing in his last fight to Golden Boy Promoted Scrappy Ramirez.

“He was a lot stronger than I thought and he was fast. His angles were tough to catch him solid.” Stated Padilla.

“If I had to compare the two, scrappy was a very good fight, but Perez is way stronger and the best I’ve faced.” Said Padilla through an interpreter.

Perez 9-0, 5ko’s, is happy to win the IBA strap but wants more.

“I hope to take time off for the Holidays, then return in March, either defend this title or fight for another one.”

In the co-main event Perez’s older brother, Aaron Perez returned to the ring after a two-year layoff. Aaron won a hard-fought unanimous decision over Rafael Reyes (20-17, 16 KOs)

Perez didn’t show any ring rust in the fight, he took his time in round one and then got going in round two.

The fight pattern was Perez coming forward and when on the inside, he would land right hands and uppercuts that caused Reyes’s nose to bleed. Perez used this strategy the whole fight to win a shutout. 60-54 on all judges cards.

“I felt good, and it was great to get in there after all this time. I didn’t feel any rust and I was able to get the job done.”

Aaron raises his record to 11-1-1 with 6 KOs, and Reyes falls to 20-17, with 16 KOs.

In undercard action

Saul Gomez halted journeyman Alejandro Moreno with a TKO in the 3rd round. Gomez is now 2-0, 2 KOs, Moreno who has seen better days and should retire falls to 24-51.

In one of the worst decisions of the night, Leonid Grachev and Juan Cardoza Puente fought to a four-round draw. Many at ringside had Grachev as the winner.
Grachev has now had two draws in his last two bouts is 5-0-2. Puente falls to 2-1-1.

Josh Rodriquez defeated Deonte Smith with a 4-round decision. He raises his record to 2-0, while Smith falls to 0-2.

Jonathan Abeyta and Brandon Heredia fought to a 4-round draw. The draw seemed like a good call, but one of the judges scored it a ridiculous 40-36. Abeyta is now 2-1-1, while Heredia is 0-2-1.

In a night of draws Cristian Cabral and Morris Rodriquez fought to a 6 round draw.  Cabral is now 9-2-1, while Rodriquez is now 8-16-1.

Clinton Chavez defeated Caesar Alvarado with a majority decision in possibly the best fight of the night. Chavez is no 6-1, while Alvarado falls for the first time at 3-1.