By Jake Donovan
Red hot lightweight prospect Michael “The Artist” Perez was picture perfect in easily destroying American southpaw Tyrone Harris in two rounds Friday evening at Coliseo Rafael G Amalbert in Juncos, Puerto Rico.
Perez was surgical yet ruthless in his attack, with Harris never given a chance to get going. The action was all one way, including a second round that saw Harris repeatedly visit the canvas before the bout was mercifully halted.
A well-placed left hand to the body produced the first of three knockdowns in the round, as Harris doubled over in pan as he fell to the canvas. The Michigan native beat the count, but found himself back on all fours just moments later as Perez had no desire to drag out matters.
Once again, Harris dusted himself off and was all too willing to take more punishment. Perez advised, drilling his foe and forcing him to the canvas for a third and final time. The referee counted to eight and gave Harris every chance of continuing onward, but didn’t like what he saw once the journeyman attempted to steady himself, waving off the bout at 2:13 of the second round.
Perez, who lives in New Jersey but being developed in Puerto Rico as of late, improves to 15-0-1 (9KO) with the win.
Harris heads back home to Michigan having now lost four straight and five of his last six as he falls to 24-9 (16KO).
Being kept active in two separate countries, Perez continues to pile up wins in explosive and rapid fashion. The knockout was his fourth straight – all coming in 2011 – and has now racked up six wins within the past 12 months.
UNDERCARD ACTION
Unbeaten featherweight prospect Jayson Velez looked sensational in stopping divisional steppingstone Jonathan Arias in the fifth round of their televised co-feature.
Velez was in control of the action from the beginning, taking the fight to the visiting Mexican and methodically breaking him down. The end came emphatically and suddenly, as Velez raced out of his corner at the start of the fifth to connect with a right hand and left hook to send Arias crashing to the canvas. The referee waved off the bout without a count, at 0:23 of the fifth round.
The win makes it three straight in 2011, all caught on Telefutura airwaves as Velez improves to 17-0 (13KO). Arias falls to 16-7 (9KO); all seven losses have come over the course of his last eight bouts.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.
