DeCarlo Perez, Dashon Johnson Ready For Philadelphia Throwdown
By Jake Donovan
Dashon Johnson would have been branded Public Enemy #1 in any other city after coming dangerously close to knocking out the local favorite. In boxing-rich Philadelphia, the journeyman earned respected by the locals for his fighting heart and flare of the dramatic on display versus unbeaten Jesse Hart at the 2300 Arena in March.
Event handlers appreciated the effort enough to bring him back versus another regional prospect, as the California-based veteran will meet Atlantic City’s DeCarlo “3Mendo” Perez at the same venue on June 3. Their scheduled eight-round main event will top a seven-fight card presented by Hall of Fame promoter Russell Peltz along with Joe Hand Promotions and BAM Boxing.
There is easier money to be made for both boxers, each of whom are coming off of a loss but determined to moved past their respective setbacks.
Perez (15-4-1, 5KOs) was riding high following last summer’s Showtime-televised landslide win over previously unbeaten Juan Ubaldo Cabreram but fell short on the same Shobox circuit in a stoppage loss to Rob Brant earlier this year.
The defeat disrupted a four-fight win streak, but could prove to be a blessing. The 25-year young Perez discovered at the wrong point in training camp that his growing frame is no longer meant to squeeze into a middleweight uniform.
With that comes his first test at a new weight, as he meets Johnson (19-19-4, 6KOs) at a maximum catchweight of 164-pounds.
“I know people will criticize me about my last fight but that is behind me,” Perez said of moving on from the loss to Brant. “My focus is on my future and destroying everything and everyone who steps into the ring with me.
“That was a different fighter (against Brant). I wasn’t myself throughout camp but as a fighter I’m not going to run away from a fight. All I can do is fix my mistakes and what was wrong and come back better than ever. I have refocused myself purely on my boxing career—and nothing else. Come June 3, everyone will see a completely different fighter.”
His opponent makes no such promises.
“I am looking to pick up right where I left off and put up a great show for the fans,” Johnson said of his Philly return.
Contenders and prospects know better than to be fooled by Johnson’s .500 record. It was a lesson learned the hard – and painful – way by Hart, who was cruising along in the first half of their 10-round bout but through poor pacing ran out of steam over the final few rounds.
The worst moments of Hart’s professional career to date came in the 10th and final round. Johnson was denied a knockdown earlier in the fight, clipping Hart just before the end of round six, only for the sequence to go unnoticed by referee Ernie Sharif.
There was no questioning the near-fight ending sequence, when Johnson unloaded with four clean shots on a virtually defenseless Hart. The local favorite was too tired to pick up his guard and too “fighting Philly” to clinch his way out of trouble. Johnson seized the moment, landing a booming right hand shot to produce the bout’s lone official knockdown, only for the moment to come right at the 10-second warning. Hart beat the count, made it to the bell and eked out a close decision win.
Johnson lobbied for a rematch, filing a protest on the belief that the bout was mishandled by the the referee. His legal efforts fell on deaf ears, but he is given a chance at in-ring redemption in a town where its passionate patrons know and respect his name.
“I’m excited to be coming back to Philly, a place where the fans appreciate me for my fighting style and my grind rather than looking at my record,” Johnson said. “I’m grateful to Peltz Boxing for bringing me back”
TICKET AND VENUE INFO
The Dashon Johnson-DeCarlo Perez fight headlines a seven-bout card at the 2300 Arena, located at 2300 South Swanson Street in South Philadelphia (between Ritner & Porter, Front and 2d Streets). Doors open at 6 pm; first fight at 7pm. Tickets are $40, $50 and $75 and can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and Wanamaker’s Tickets (215-568-2400). Tickets also can be purchased online at www.wanatix.com.
The June 3 card is promoted by Peltz Boxing, Joe Hand Promotions and BAM Boxing.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Follow him on his shiny new Twitter account: @JakeNDaBox_v2
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
