By Cliff Rold

For a fighter looking to make their mark, to really stand out, there’s been no better place in recent years than the undercard of an Israel Vasquez-Rafael Marquez fight.  Who can forget…

Um.

Exactly.

With 2007 and 2008 Fights of the Year contested in their second and third encounters, and a runner-up classic in the 2007 rivalry premiere, the Vasquez-Marquez rivalry has overshadowed whole years, much less the supporting casts of their individual encounters.  Fights like Vic Darchinyan’s near tragic outing against Victor Burgos and Celestino Caballero-Jorge Lacierva, for better or worse, were left to be little more than line items in the record book, swallowed by the vivid memories left behind by the two Mexican greats.

All of that could change this Saturday.

In a fight which has built its own quiet anticipation among devoted fight followers, Colombian-born 31-year old IBF Bantamweight titlist Yonnhy Perez (20-0, 14 KO) will attempt his first defense of the belt against 24-year old 2004  Mexican Olympian Abner Mares (20-0, 13 KO).   

In the ring, if not on the marquee, Perez-Mares could well play out as its own main event.  If Perez can maintain the momentum he built with grueling, sensational victories over proven veterans Silence Mabuza and Joseph Agbeko (for the title), there’s a chance Vasquez-Marquez IV could be forced to share the memories in a way their first three wars did not.

Perez was aware that his career best wins in 2009 were also winning experiences for the fans.  “It’s always important to win,” Perez stated, “but with my style and the fighters I fought, (we) make for great fights.”

Perez’s style could best be described as frenetic, a non-stop fusillade of offense with sneaky defensive tricks to compliment it.  He comes to fight and the fighting never seems to stop.  It’s a style which requires tremendous energy and conditioning.  Despite the increased attention sharing the bill with Vasquez-Marquez IV could bring, Perez says he hasn’t changed his approach for this training camp.  “Nothing has been different from this compared to any of the other ones. Camp has been great and we prepared for a twelve round (fight) and to come out victorious.”

He acknowledges his style is a product of the training he endures.  “I train to throw many punches.  That’s what me and my trainer, Danny Zamora, work on and this fight is going to come down who has the best condition.”

A victory for Perez this weekend, no certainty given the quality of his opponent, would come in a division which has found its identity after years without consistent top-to-bottom distinction.  Bantamweight stands out in 2010 as one of the sport’s most talented classes, a strong balance of seasoned titlists, promising contenders, and potential stars waiting to rise in weight.

Perez recognizes the quality of the field at 118 lbs. even if he’s not ready to call his domain the sports finest.  Perez notes Bantamweight, “is very good right now.  We have great fighters like (former WBC titlist Hozumi) Hasegawa, Mares, (unified WBC/WBO titlist Fernando) Montiel and Agbeko and there are many good prospects that are out there.”  Perez confers superiority though in saying, “I really think the 140 pound division is the hottest and (WBO titlist) Timothy Bradley is the best.”

Choosing between 118 and 140 right now is a choice between brands of caviar, both rich in taste for the fistic pallet.  Key to a division forming its identity, and building on it, is clash between the elite at the top.  It’s been happening regularly at 140.  Montiel’s knockout win of Hasegawa just weeks ago provided the first title unification of any kind at Bantamweight in almost forty years. 

For all its talent, Bantamweight will need more fights like that to keep afire.  Perez would like to be a part of them. 

“It would be an honor and great achievement to unify the titles.”  Perez said before adding, “First, I need to get past this fight and then think about that.”  Success versus Mares could open up many options.  “I would love to fight (World Jr. Bantamweight Champion) Vic Darchinian or, if Israel Vasquez wins, I would like to fight him or unify the titles.”  Perez sees success if he has a chance at the latter.  “I believe I am the best Bantamweight.”

As indicated, it hasn’t always been easy to back that claim in recent decades.  Asked why he thinks it’s been so difficult to get the various beltholders together at 118, Perez offered logically, “I believe because they all come from different countries like in Asia and TV doesn’t want to pay to see the small weights…but that’s where the best fighters are at and thank Showtime for supporting me.”

Perez’s nod to Showtime, who will this weekend’s card, also acknowledges their broadcasting of his showdown with Agbeko, a Fight of the Year candidate in 2009.  As good as Mares is, and is expected to be on Saturday, Perez sees neither Agbeko or Mares as his toughest test.  “I think Abner is a great fighter and good friend but going down to South Africa and fighting Silence Mabuza was the toughest fight I had.”

In that give and take affair, Perez went onto hostile turf and, in the final round, stopped a Mabuza whose only losses had come in memorable Bantamweight title challenges of Rafael Marquez.  Now with a belt of his own, Perez would like to one day be able to enjoy home turf advantage himself one day.  Asked if he’d like to defend his belt in Colombia, Perez said enthusiastically, “That would be the best thing ever to fight on my homeland.” 

Introduced to the sport by his father, Perez didn’t have to look far for fistic idols, referring to Colombian 1970s Jr. Welterweight great Antonio Cervantes as “the greatest fighter, Kid Pambele.”  Perez also mentioned Colombian Bantamweight great, the memorable former WBC champion Miguel “Happy” Lora, as someone he looked up to.

With that quality of pugilistic icon casting a shadow, Perez knows he has much to live up as he carves his own place.  The shadow cast in sharing a bill with a pair of future Hall of Famers this weekend is enough to think about.

Can Perez-Mares step beyond that shadow?  Can the co-stars steal the show?  “(Vasquez and Marquez) are great fighters and their fights have been the best fights in the history of boxing.  But I think with me and Abner being so hungry, and our styles…I believe we can.”

If it happens, it happens but Perez was level headed when asked if stealing the show was a goal this weekend.

“No.”  Perez said.  “My goal is to win.”

Weekly Ledger

But wait, there’s more…

Dzinziruk’s U.S. Debut: https://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=27808   

Cliff’s Notes… Yahoo’s pound-for-pound ratings panel getting grief beyond just general disagreement is absurd because they’re, well, pound-for-pound ratings.  We are living in a rare time when the two best fighters in boxing can actually realistically have a fight.  It’s not always the case (like when Pernell Whitaker and Roy Jones were the men du jour in 1995).  Pound for pound is nonsense when boiled down, a game of comparisons and mythical matches.  Welterweight?  That’s a real division, with a real title.  That Mayweather-Pacquiao could solidify the P4P picture (for a night) would merely be a bonus to a much anticipated bout for current Welterweight supremacy…Amir Khan is calling out Marcos Maidana.  Isn’t Maidana’s back hurt?...Sebastian Zbik-Khroen Gevor in July is one of the most intriguing all-Euro clashes on the calendar right now.  Keep an eye on that one…Tomasz Adamek-Evander Holyfield would be interesting only if Holyfield were HG Wells’d about ten years or so…Andre Berto says he’d love to fight Pacquiao, Mayweather and Mosley?  Is there any difference in saying that and saying “I want to make the most money I can?”  

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com