Just when boxing seems to be veering off the rails, someone like Willibaldo Garcia Perez comes along as a reminder of why it’s called the sweet science.

Thanks to the residue of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson spectacle, you might’ve missed the little note this week that the vacant IBF junior bantamweight title will be settled between Mexico’s Rene Calixto Bibiano and his countryman Garcia Perez on Dec. 21 in Japan.

Briefly unified champion Fernando Martinez opted recently to vacate the IBF belt he won by defeating Japan’s Kazuto Ioka in order to stage a WBA title rematch with Ioka rather than take on an IBF-assigned mandatory foe.

That move provided the opening for Garcia Perez, 22-5-1 (13 KOs), to seek to extend his 10-fight win streak, against Bibiano, 23-0 (9 KOs).

It’s a stark opportunity for Garcia Perez, 34, who hasn’t lost since his June 2021 COVID-era, split decision defeat in England to eventual junior featherweight title contender Paul Butler.

“A lot of these guys from Mexico, they’re never really taken under anyone’s wing and promoted the right way,” Garcia Perez’s advisor Sean Gibbons said. “They’re just thrown into all sorts of different fights. Same with Willibaldo. He had to work his way up fighting at 118lbs, where he lost a few fights to the likes of [former IBF 115lbs title challenger] Alexandro Santiago and Butler.”

Veteran Mexican trainer Pedro Moran, who had Garcia Perez working daily in a humble gym in Mexico, told Gibbons two years ago, “This kid has never lost at 115lbs. He’s relentless. If you let me work with him, I believe we can take him to the title.”

Gibbons sent Garcia Perez to an IBF Latino fight and moved him smartly up the organizational rankings when the Martinez development struck.

“I’ve helped guys who’ve never been heard of,” Gibbons said. "They all need that little chess match. I’m not that good with chess on a board, but I do a helluva job in boxing’s version of chess."

Gibbons accepted the chore of taking the fight in Japan, telling Bibiano’s Japanese promoter, “No problem, Willabaldo’s a globetrotter. He’ll go anywhere to get his opportunity for the title.”

Gibbons has represented Manny Pacquiao and currently guides recent 140-pound titleholder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, among others. But he says an underdog tale like that of Garcia Perez moves him beyond those high-profile negotiations.

“The guy is a monster, Mexico’s ‘Rocky.’ At 34 years old, getting a world title shot is a dream for a guy like Willibaldo,” Gibbons said. “It’s like a baseball player who spends seven years in the minor leagues and finally gets his opportunity to come to the bigs. Willibaldo is so special … they’re the guys I love. No one paid attention to him. If we don’t take a liking and help him, he ends up with a nice, little career and ends up as an opponent somewhere. These are the moments I live for in boxing: to help guys achieve their dream.

“I’ve had a lot of success, been with the biggest guys. But this is more satisfying in ways because it changes lives.”

Gibbons expects Garcia Perez to be the betting favorite against Bibiano. 

“I’d be very stunned and disappointed if he didn’t [win],” Gibbons said. “Guys [like Garcia Perez] are the hardest in boxing to fight. They have no style. They’re in your face, they throw from everywhere. If you go and watch the Paul Butler fight – which he took on five days’ notice – the punches just keep coming. He bangs. His birthday is Dec. 24. He’s looking to deliver himself a gift, and that’s the IBF world title.”

Winning would leave Garcia Perez prominently positioned in a division that just saw South Africa’s Phumelele Cafu upset former titleholder Kosei Tanaka for the WBO belt while popular American Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez successfully defended his WBC strap Nov. 9 by knocking out Pedro Guevara in the third round.

Rodriguez, promoted by Japan’s Teiken Promotions, has said he wants to unify the division.

“There’s money in that division: Bam Rodriguez, Fernando Martinez and [Cafu]," Gibbons said. "[Garcia Perez] goes from the outhouse to the penthouse with one win. Basically, Bam has his choice: [the Martinez-Ioka winner] or Willibaldo.

“Martinez could be ready by winning [Dec. 31]. Willibaldo will be ready and is likely more apt to be ready. Because if Martinez wins, he’s more likely to go enjoy himself, party and fight in the second half of the year. Willibaldo, if he wins in great fashion – just pounds this guy and scores a knockout – his stock goes way up; and being there in Japan doesn’t hurt.”