Some boxing prospects get mainstream attention right out of the gate. They may have been a former Olympian or amateur star, or racked up a bunch of knockouts to start their career. Sometimes it works out for those fighters. They get exposure and the big paychecks that come with that. However, sometimes it comes at the cost of their development. Some of the best fighters in the world are moved a bit more methodically, away from television cameras and national media. Often times taking the time to develop as a professional before getting to the big stage is the best way to go. One fighter who may be off radar right now, but appears ready to be discovered, is super featherweight Eloy “The Prince” Perez.
Perez (11-0-2, 2 KOs) grew up in Rochester, Washington and turned pro at 18 years old, while still attending high school. In his debut he took on Geronimo Rosario, a man eleven years his senior, in front of his hometown fans at the Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester. Perez overwhelmed his opponent with his speed and aggression and scored a first round kayo to open his career. One year later, Perez won his sixth professional bout with a six-round decision over Cesar Olmedo. The next day he graduated from high school.
Perez’ first tough assignment came in his seventh pro bout when he took on Kevin Carmody, who sported a deceiving 7-7-1 record at the time. He was coming off a close majority decision loss to unbeaten prospect Adailton De Jesus and he had given previously unbeaten Cristian Lopez, who was 16-0 at the time, his first loss via six-round unanimous decision. It would be Perez’ first eight-rounder, after it was bumped from six rounds, days before the fight, when the original main event fell out. Perez would come out with a draw and a good learning experience.
In 2007 Perez moved from Washington to train with the well respected Garcia Boxing professional management and training company out of Salinas, California. Garcia Boxing is a unique, family-run company. Kathy Garcia manages the fighters and her husband Max and famed Southern California boxing guru Don Familton train them, along with assistant trainer Sam Garcia, Kathy and Max’s son. “They called me in for sparring for Chuy [Rodriguez],” recalls Eloy. “I liked how Max trained Chuy. He is a great conditioning coach and a good all around coach.”
Max Garcia is a more demanding trainer than some, and Eloy had to adjust a bit. “I saw someone that needed a lot of work,” says Max in regards to what he saw when he first took on training duties for Eloy. “My work ethic is really grueling. You have to be in great shape to train with us. He wanted to do it all right away, but he came around. His work ethic is real good, he is coming along.” Former IBF Featherweight Champion Robert Guerrero of nearby Gilroy often spars with Garcia Boxing fighters. “Robert used to beat him pretty good, but he can pretty much hang with him now,” says Max.
Being managed and trained by the Garcias is a bit different than with most management teams. Eloy, along with welterweight Eric Garcia, live with Kathy and Max. Their meals are planned for them and they are expected to carry their weight around the house, like a family. “We get along and work together,” says Max. “We help each other. They help each other with sparring. We go down to L.A. to work with Don Familton and work out some things. Then we come back up here and implement them.” Living with the Garcias required some change for Eloy. “Back home I hung out with friends and did what I wanted,” says Perez. “Everybody here does their part. They know what they are doing. They know boxing.”
Soon after joining the Garcias, Perez was in for a test against another tough journeyman fighter, Carlos Vinan in August of 2007 in Sacramento, California. Perez had a fight scheduled the previous month, which was canceled the day of when his opponent was ruled out by the commission. With an interrupted training regimen, Eloy did not feel like himself in the ring. “I wasn’t very active,” says Perez. “I wasn’t comfortable in the fight.” At the time, Perez was still getting used to his new training team. “We weren’t on the same page yet,” recalls Eloy. At the end of a back-and-forth battle, the fight was declared a draw.
One of the many who were impressed by Perez’ effort against Vinan was the promoter of the fight, Patrick Oritz of Ringside Ticket. “He was in a tough fight that night and ended up with a draw, but I became a fan of his at that fight,” says Ortiz. “I do a lot of shows in the Northwest and had heard his name, but had never got him on a show until the Sacramento card. He had to show a lot of guts in that fight. He proved that he could fight in the trenches and not just rely on his speed and skill.” Perez would like to have another go with Vinan before long. “If I fought him again, which I would like to, I would beat him,” says Perez.
After the Vinan fight, Perez closed out 2007 with dominating performances over Odilon Rivera and Ron Boyd. Perez stopped Boyd in the third round, which was his first knockout since his pro debut. Perez feels his record gives somewhat of a false indication of his power. “When I first started, I knocked a lot of opponents down, but I got excited and tired myself out,” says Perez. “I am sitting down [on my punches,] and coming forward now.”
In his next fight, Perez took a step up in class by taking on Mexican power puncher Jorge Pimentel to open 2008. “Pimentel was bigger than me,” recalls Perez. “He was strong, I could feel it. He had a huge reach on me and was just strong.” When Pimentel would get a solid shot in, Perez would always answer with two or three of his own. Despite the natural size disadvantage, Perez boxed his way to an impressive unanimous decision. The win may have been even more impressive than the record indicates, since some Mexican fighters have fights that go unrecorded. “We weren’t even sure what his record was,” said Max after the fight. “We got some tapes that said [he had more fights.]”
Perez makes his next ring appearance Saturday, November 1st at the Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort in Canyonville, Oregon. It will be a return to the Northwest for Perez, his first fight in his home region in just under two years. “My high school friends will be able to come,” says Perez. “I am looking forward to it. I haven’t fought in Oregon before.” Little is known about his opponent, Juan Jaramillo (8-5-2, 3 KOs) out of Keizer, Oregon.
Promoter Patrick Ortiz, who has promoted the majority of Jaramillo’s bouts, believes he will provide a decent test for Perez. “Jaramillo is a bit methodical,” says Ortiz. “He comes forward and will get hit a lot, but he comes to fight. He starts slow, but by the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds he will be getting some great work done to the body. He gets his opponent hurt in just about every fight he is in. He just has trouble finishing them.” For the first time in his career, Perez is scheduled to go ten rounds. Should he get to the late rounds, Perez will have to show his great conditioning. “Jaramillo is going to test Eloy’s resilience, which I know he has,” says Ortiz.
While not looking past Jaramillo, Perez feels ready for the next level of opposition. “I am ready for whatever they put in front of me,” says Perez. “I need to fight a fighter with an undefeated record and beat them.” Perez may soon get his chance. There have been talks of putting together a fight with unbeaten Filipino Mercito Gesta (13-0-1, 5 KOs). “That’s the guy they want to put Eloy in with,” says Max. “It shouldn’t be a problem with Eloy.” It would be a good fight to gauge his progression. Gesta stopped the same Carlos Vinan that gave Perez trouble in four rounds. Although Gesta would be a good fight, Perez has ideas of even bigger game. “I want Yuriorkis Gamboa,” says Perez. “He is a big prospect and a big name. It would be for a title or an eliminator. He is very amateurish. He makes mistakes and I think I could beat him.”
Patrick Ortiz is excited about what the future could hold for Perez. “I am looking to develop him in the Northwest,” says Ortiz. “I already have another fight slated for him [in the region,] but it is obviously contingent on his fight against Jaramillo. This is not a gimme fight. This is a tough fight.” Ortiz believes with the right breaks and dedication, Perez could become a world champion. “He has a great management team behind him, with the Garcias,” says Ortiz. “I am sure Kathy Garcia will make the right moves for him. He may not have the punching power that is usually required to win a world title. But if he does get the right opportunity, and works hard, he could sneak in and win a world title.”
Things look lined up for Perez to break out, but there is still much work to be done. “Being short for 130, we have to work on being fast with our hands and feet,” says Max. “He has the tools to go places and hopefully he can become world champion.” Perez is entirely focused on his goal and appears ready for what comes next. “It’s all about boxing right now,” says Perez. “I got what it takes to be champion.”
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com