by James Slater – 32-year-old Danny Perez of San Diego has stepped in as a late replacement opponent for the unbeaten Alfredo Angulo. Taking the Feb. 14th fight on less than ten days notice, the teak-tough Perez, 34-5(17) fills in, of course, for the “injured” Ricardo Mayorga. It just may be that the 26-year-old Angulo winds up getting his biggest and toughest test yet; as many felt would have been the case had “El Perro” fought the Nicaraguan as originally planned..
Perez really is as tough and as durable as they come. Never once stopped in his pro career (he was knocked down in the 10th and final round of his 2004 points win over Marcos Primera), Perez has been in with some top names at welterweight, light-middleweight and middleweight. A pro since January of 1996, the 32-year-old with the iron jaw is probably best known among fight fans for his two points losses to Mexico’s Antonio Margarito. Perez famously managed to do what precious few other fighters ever looked like doing (pre Shane Mosley, anyway) and knocked down the “Tijuana Tornado,” in the very first round of their original, 1999 non-title meeting, and wound up taking “Tony” to a close eight-round split decision.
Hooking up with Margarito three years later, this time in a challenge for his WBO welterweight title, Perez lost widely over 12 rounds. His gameness and the manner in which he is seemingly impervious to pain was once again shown, however. Among his wins, Perez has names like David Kamau, Grady Brewer, Jose Luis Zertuche and Julio Cesar Garcia on his resume. Make no mistake about it, this man can fight, and he can fight hard.
After a 2005 points loss to David Lopez up at middleweight, Perez was inactive for just over three years. Since his ring return in July of last year, the 32-year-old has won three straight, including the battle with Garcia, which he won on points over ten hard rounds. A DQ win over Eric Mitchell took place in November of 2008, and now Perez will take on the exciting Angulo, currently 14-0(11). Having fought as recently as three months ago, the replacement warrior figures to be in at the very least decent shape on Feb. 14th.
Still, having taken the fight on such short notice, it’s possible Perez will not be as sharp as he’d have wished, and he must be applauded for even taking the fight and saving the day. Angulo will start favourite, but not an overwhelming one. This shapes up like being a battle whichever way you look at it. If Angulo can get himself a stoppage win he will really have made a statement. A points win over the tough guy, which would also be a fine result, looks far more likely.