The road a fighter travels from prospect to contender is often long and winding. There are many factors that come into play as a promising fighter navigates the early part of their career. Rising super featherweight Eloy Perez is reaching one of those critical junctures in his professional pursuit. With a victory over potential spoiler Juan Santiago at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California tomorrow night, Perez may be officially stamped a contender.
Just over a year ago, we featured Perez in a piece titled “Promising Prospect.” Having turned professional in 2005, Perez had worked his way to a 12-0 record and was just waiting for the right opportunity to test his mettle against another well regarded young fighter. “I am ready for whatever they put in front of me,” Perez told 15rounds.com thirteen months ago. “I need to fight a fighter with an undefeated record and beat them.” That opportunity came on September 12th when Perez twice came off of the canvas to decision previously unbeaten Dannie Williams and claim the WBC USNBC Super Featherweight title.
Perez (14-0-2, 3 KOs) of Salinas, California will look to build upon his defining victory thus far against Santiago Friday, with the vacant WBO NABO Super Featherweight title on the line. Originally Perez was to take on returning former prospect Arturo Quintero for the title. However, the California State Athletic Commission ruled Quintero out as a viable opponent for the ten-round contest.
Perez’ manager Kathy Garcia was insistent on getting her charge a crack at the regional title because of what it could mean in terms of moving him into the world rankings, so the promoter scrambled and found Santiago (11-2-1, 7 KOs) of Denver, Colorado. While Santiago provides a different challenge, considering he just stopped formerly undefeated light welterweight prospect Ty Barnett in a single round, Perez and his team seem inappreciably concerned with the change.
“Kathy does what she does and secures the fights and makes sure they are the right opponents to where we can improve and test Eloy every time,” said Perez’ trainer Max Garcia. “We don’t want any soft opponents. We want someone with a winning record and a reputable name. Juan Santiago, and of course Dannie Williams, was a reputable name. He was a great amateur. Santiago, I don’t know about his amateur career, but he has a great record and stopped Ty Barnett in the first round. That is something that has to be respected, but we want a challenge in every fight. That is the main thing, challenge him and make sure he progresses in every fight.”
Neither Perez, nor his trainer, seemed bothered to be taking on the unknown of an opponent they know very little about. “It doesn’t really affect me,” said Perez. “I am going to be ready regardless of who they put in front of me. Whoever wants to get in the ring with me, it doesn’t matter, as long as I get that win. I haven’t changed anything. I am well prepared and I am in shape. I feel that I am the better fighter and I will come out victorious.” Trainer Max Garcia did his part to research Santiago, but came up with little to go on. Still the veteran trainer remains confident. “I saw a little bit on YouTube, of him doing mitts and sparring, but that is basically it,” admitted Garcia. “I know he stopped Ty Barnett in the first round, but that was at 140-pounds. He has not made [super featherweight] in his last five fights if I am correct, but we will see what he brings at 130-. We’re ready.”
In preparing for this fight, Perez and his team traveled to Big Bear, California to train with Shane Mosley, a longtime associate of the Garcias. It goes without saying the type of positive affect a legend and true professional like Mosley can have on a young fighter he invites into his inner circle. “[Mosley] has had a tremendous amount of influence in every aspect: work ethic, in the gym and out of the gym,” says Max. “Shane is leading by example by being on weight all of the time and being in shape all of the time. Shane would say, ‘If they call me to fight tomorrow at 145- I will fight at 145-.’ That is the influence he has on Eloy, and I think Eloy is excited to be working with Shane. That is why we go to Big Bear.”
“He has been helping me out,” says Perez of Mosley. “He spars with me. He counsels me mentally and shows me physically and just works with me. We have a relationship that we talk to each other, and he wants me to get better. I do what he tells me, so I can get better. I trust him and do what I am told so I can be victorious. It is working for me, trusting Shane, Kathy and Max. We are all a team, and [Shane] has become part of our team.”
Perez will be vying for the regional title at a venue that has become his home away from home in recent years. Perez, a Rainier, Washington native, has fought at the HP Pavilion four times in the last two-and-a-half years. “I like fighting in San Jose,” says Perez. “It is a great crowd and we have a fan base in San Jose and even just Northern California. They have accepted me and I am from Washington. I like fighting there. The atmosphere is great. The fans are good to me. I am just glad they invited me back.”
Should Perez get past Santiago and claim the WBO NABO 130-pound title, he could find himself ranked among the top super featherweights, a division lacking in big names, but with abundant openings a rising contender could exploit. Perez appears ready to shed the prospect tag and move into the contender category. “I am going to be showing the fans that I am going to become somebody,” pledges Perez. “I am going show them that I am going to become a world champion.”
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.