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Intuitive + unpredictable = WBA interim flyweight champion.
In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Albuquerque’s Abraham Perez, facing down the toughest opponent of his career on Sunday in front of an international audience on DAZN, defeated former world champion Jonathan Gonzalez by split decision.
After 12 physical yet tactical rounds, one judge scored the bout for Gonzalez 115-113. Two judges, however, saw it 115-113 for Perez — awarding Perez, the challenger, the interim title belt.
The Journal, scoring off the DAZN streaming, had it 116-112 for Perez.
Perez improved his still-spotless record to 15-0 with seven knockouts. Gonzalez, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, is 29-5-1.
A relatively subdued Perez was his harshest critic during a brief post-fight interview in the ring.
Asked if he felt he’d done enough to win, Perez said, “Yes, but I still don’t feel like that was my best.”
Asked what he felt he could do better, he said, “Just stay a little bit more on my feet, stay more sharp with my punches.
“Shoot, I’m a flyweight (112 pounds). I should throw more (punches) than that.”
During the fight, the DAZN crew praised Perez’s ability to adjust on the fly — “intuitive,” was the word used — and his unpredictability, giving Gonzalez different looks.
“You never know what he’s going to do next,” one of the broadcasters said.
Gonzalez, a 35-year-old veteran of 15 years in the pro ranks, won the WBO light flyweight (108-pound) title in 2021 and successfully defended three times before moving up in weight. The shorter fighter, he had his best moments Sunday when pressing the fight inside and imposing his physicality.
It was Perez, though, who landed the cleaner shots throughout — using movement, maintaining distance and landing creative combinations, mostly to the head, while not ignoring the body.
There were no knockdowns, and neither fighter appeared hurt or dazed at any point.
In boxing, an interim title suggests the holder of that belt might be next in line for a shot at the “regular” champion. But Gonzalez, who defeated Yankiel Rivera for the WBA interim belt in January, was required to defend against Perez instead.
Perez, asked if he’d like to challenge WBA flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval, said, “If he’s willing, then yessir, I would like it.”
Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) last fought in July 2025 and, according to boxrec.com, does not have a fight scheduled.
More likely for Perez, perhaps, is a defense of the title he won on Sunday. As is customary, Salita Promotions, which staged Sunday’s card, has options it can exercise.
“One of the great boxing towns in the United States is Albuquerque, New Mexico,” promoter Dmitriy Salita said in the ring. “Now we have a world (interim) champion, and maybe the first defense is there.”
Continue reading...
In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Albuquerque’s Abraham Perez, facing down the toughest opponent of his career on Sunday in front of an international audience on DAZN, defeated former world champion Jonathan Gonzalez by split decision.
After 12 physical yet tactical rounds, one judge scored the bout for Gonzalez 115-113. Two judges, however, saw it 115-113 for Perez — awarding Perez, the challenger, the interim title belt.
The Journal, scoring off the DAZN streaming, had it 116-112 for Perez.
Perez improved his still-spotless record to 15-0 with seven knockouts. Gonzalez, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, is 29-5-1.
A relatively subdued Perez was his harshest critic during a brief post-fight interview in the ring.
Asked if he felt he’d done enough to win, Perez said, “Yes, but I still don’t feel like that was my best.”
Asked what he felt he could do better, he said, “Just stay a little bit more on my feet, stay more sharp with my punches.
“Shoot, I’m a flyweight (112 pounds). I should throw more (punches) than that.”
During the fight, the DAZN crew praised Perez’s ability to adjust on the fly — “intuitive,” was the word used — and his unpredictability, giving Gonzalez different looks.
“You never know what he’s going to do next,” one of the broadcasters said.
Gonzalez, a 35-year-old veteran of 15 years in the pro ranks, won the WBO light flyweight (108-pound) title in 2021 and successfully defended three times before moving up in weight. The shorter fighter, he had his best moments Sunday when pressing the fight inside and imposing his physicality.
It was Perez, though, who landed the cleaner shots throughout — using movement, maintaining distance and landing creative combinations, mostly to the head, while not ignoring the body.
There were no knockdowns, and neither fighter appeared hurt or dazed at any point.
In boxing, an interim title suggests the holder of that belt might be next in line for a shot at the “regular” champion. But Gonzalez, who defeated Yankiel Rivera for the WBA interim belt in January, was required to defend against Perez instead.
Perez, asked if he’d like to challenge WBA flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval, said, “If he’s willing, then yessir, I would like it.”
Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) last fought in July 2025 and, according to boxrec.com, does not have a fight scheduled.
More likely for Perez, perhaps, is a defense of the title he won on Sunday. As is customary, Salita Promotions, which staged Sunday’s card, has options it can exercise.
“One of the great boxing towns in the United States is Albuquerque, New Mexico,” promoter Dmitriy Salita said in the ring. “Now we have a world (interim) champion, and maybe the first defense is there.”
Continue reading...
