The current world champion is targeting a “viral” unification match with Shakur Stevenson, while calling on Gervonta Davis to voluntarily defend his title.
Stevenson became the WBO super lightweight champion in January, dethroning Teofimo Lopez by majority unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden.
The 28-year-old established himself as a four-division world champion in the process, but has since expressed interest in returning to 135 pounds.
The 31-year-old has since been stripped of his belt and deemed the “WBA champion on hiatus,” in part due to an arrest warrant on domestic violence charges.
But while Davis could potentially defend his title upon his return to the sport, there’s just as much chance he’ll face Isaac Cruz in a rematch at 140 pounds.
If he were available at this weight, WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell would be cheerful to offer “Tank” a world title shot.
The 29-year-old said the same thing MillCity Boxing that he hopes to unify the super lightweight division against Stevenson in what he believes will be a “viral” fight.
“It would go viral. If it doesn’t [Stevenson]it must be another name – the returning “Tank”.
“Don’t forget I’m here, ‘Tank.’ You know how many people wanted to see me and “Tank” rumble, or my brother [Gary Russell Jr] bang [with] ‘Tank’?”
In February, Russell defeated mandatory challenger Andy Hiraoka by unanimous decision, meaning he will voluntarily defend his WBA title.
Davis, however, may prove to be an unrealistic option if he decides to return at 135 pounds, where No. 1 contender Floyd Schofield has lobbied the WBA to either order his fight against “Tank” or give him a free shot at the title. Reports indicate that “Tank” could raise to 140 upon his return, following the aforementioned rematch with Isaac Cruz.
The fight changed dramatically in the sixth round when Mosley Jr. he landed a strenuous right hand that knocked Bohaczuk to the canvas. Bohachuk defeated the count, but Mosley Jr. he quickly jumped on it, taking another barrage across the ropes.
Referee Thomas Taylor stepped in and stopped the fight at 2:38 of round 6 as Bohachuk struggled to defend himself under constant punches.
Bohachuk entered the fight as the betting favorite and tried to put pressure on Mosley Jr. in his usual aggressive style, but as the fight progressed, Mosley Jr. he coped better with the pace of the fight and consistently found opportunities for counterattacks and combinations.
In the sixth round, Bohachuk’s pressing and punching power dropped noticeably compared to his previous fights, allowing Mosley Jr. for more effective counter-attacks during exchanges. Mosley Jr. he used a mighty right hand that dropped Bohachuk, then finished strongly, maintaining constant pressure on the ropes, resulting in a stoppage.
Mosley Jr.’s improved speed and timing. also created problems for Bohachuk in the second half of the fight. Bohachuk continued to push forward with pressure and volume, but his slower reactions left Mosley Jr. a chance for counterattacks and quick combinations before moving away from danger.
The loss was another challenging period for Bohachuk after recent challenging fights, while Mosley Jr. had the best performance of his recent career after losing to Jesus Ramos Jr. by unanimous decision. in December last year. For Bohaczuk, it was the second defeat in the last three fights.
After Mosley Jr.’s victory appointed Callum Walsh, who competes under the Zuffa banner in the junior middleweight division.
Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
Mike Perez remains one of boxing’s biggest mysteries. Eight years undefeated, fifty pounds lighter and still going nowhere.
At age 40, Perez should be slowing down physically. Most fighters his age are desperate to maintain weight and squeeze in one last paycheck before retirement.
Perez does the opposite.
Mike Perez is constantly losing weight
The former heavyweight and Prizefighter winner stepped into the ring again on Saturday night in Manchester looking leaner than ever before, weighing in at just under 195 pounds.
Perez moved to 31-3-1 with an eight-round points victory over previously undefeated Franklin Arinze on the Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley card at the Co-op Live Arena.
This means the Cuban is now just 20 pounds shy of the airy heavyweight limit, despite competing above 240 pounds during his heavyweight career.
This is one of the strangest physical transformations in up-to-date boxing. But the bigger mystery is where it all leads.
Perez hasn’t lost a fight since winning the world title against the division’s number one 200-pounder Mairis Briedis in 2017. He completely rebuilt his body, stayed energetic, won regional belts and even established himself on the bridgeweight scene.
Yet somehow he still seems trapped in boxing limbo.
Saturday’s performance came at around 6pm on the UK undercard against another relatively unknown opponent. Without much pressure. No solemn title talks. There’s no indication that anyone in boxing knows what to do with him yet.
This is what makes Perez such a fascinating case.
The fight with Magomed Abdusalamov changed everything
Talent has never been an issue. Mike Perez is an extremely talented boxer who can punch. So what’s the problem?
Anyone who saw him shoot through Prizefighter in 2011 or trade bombs with Magomed Abdusalamov at Madison Square Garden knows that Perez once looked destined for the very top of the heavyweight division.
But the fight with Abdusalamov changed everything.
Ed Mulholland
Mago suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the brutal war in Novel York, and although Perez escaped unscathed, he never physically regained his former career.
Whether it was mental, emotional, or just the natural aftermath of a terrible night in the ring, something undeniably changed in Perez from that moment on.
Now, at 40, he occupies one of the strangest positions in boxing.
Too aged to be considered a solemn long-term investment. Too talented to be completely ignored. Too experienced for potential clients to take unnecessary risks. But still good enough that people wonder what would happen if someone finally gave him a real chance.
Whether his obvious ability will ever be rewarded, or whether the reward comes too overdue, is impossible to ignore whenever his name comes up.
The Mago fight will always hang over Perez’s career, regardless of what “Rebel” does from here.
But if he somehow manages to win a world title before he leaves, perhaps that shadow would finally fade a little.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
After his last victory, David Benavidez was linked to many huge names, and his father and trainer rejected the risk of his son losing to one of the sought-after challengers, believing that the fight would not go to the third round.
Since then, Benavidez has been offered multiple options for the future, including a mammoth fight with Dmitry Bivol, a move to heavyweight and a potential split with Jai Opetaia – considered Benavidez’s biggest threat at cruiserweight.
Although talking to Boxing in Mill CityJose Benavidez senior has revealed he is unimpressed with the skills of the Australian, who was stripped of his IBF cruiserweight world title earlier this year when he signed with Zuffa Boxing.
“Don’t get me wrong, Jai Opetaia is a good fighter, but he doesn’t have a chin. In all his fights, he gets hurt. I don’t think he has a good jab, I don’t think he has good defense, I don’t think he has a good body shot, I don’t think he has a good upper body shot; he’s just a good fighter.
“He’s a disciplined player, I see the discipline, I just don’t see the talent.”
Benavidez Sr. then offered his predictions for the eventual competition, believing his son would defeat Opetaia “in one or two rounds.”
“Everyone thought Zurdo’s weight and power would be a huge difference. Opetaia… I think David will stop him in one or two rounds.”
Time will tell if the move to Zuffa will prevent Opetaia from fighting challengers who are not affiliated with Dana White’s promotional team, as fan pressure and demand for this fight continues to grow.
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