By James Slater: Unbeaten Ireland-based Cuban heavyweight prospect Mike Perez, disappointingly out of action since winning “Prizefighter” back in May, has called out fellow unbeaten Tyson Fury. Perez, a 16-0(12) southpaw, says he and his team have been trying to get a recognizable name into the ring since his May 7th triumph – with names Kevin Johnson, Jean Marc Mormeck, Johnathon Banks, Vinny Maddalone, Travis Walker and others reportedly offered a fight with Perez – but to no avail.
Now, with British and Commonwealth ruler Fury, 16-0(11) aiming to fight in Ireland again, on November 12th, the Cork-based 25-year-old hope says he is more than ready to take the date. Not only that, but Perez claims he said he’d verbally agreed to a fight with Fury some time back yet never got the follow-through contract.
“Why would I not want that fight?,” Perez said of the Nov. 12th date Vs. Fury. “It’s easy money and a chance to make a lot of people happy by knocking him out and shutting his big mouth. Fury is just like David Haye, he talks the talk but he doesn’t deliver. Fury’s promoter asked me about the fight a few weeks ago when we still didn’t have an opponent. I said yes straight away and asked them to send a contract but we never heard any more about it.”
So, will Team-Fury now accept the fight and can a deal that is suitable to both be made? Certainly, from a fan’s perspective, I’d love to see this fight happen. Both guys look promising, both have exciting, fan-friendly styles and both can punch. A risky fight for both, at least on paper, the winner would have further claim to being the best heavyweight in Britain right now.
“He says he’s out again on November 12th so come on, put your money where your big mouth is and make a real offer this time,” Perez stated.
Perez, like millions of other people, watched 23-year-old Fury’s 5th-round TKO win over a gutsy Nicolai Firtha this past Saturday and, like many others, Perez feels the fight was stopped too soon. “The Rebel,” as the Cuban defector is know, also feels he would have finished Fury had he hurt him the way Firtha did in that action-packed third-round.
“Firtha was knocked out cold by Tye Fields, a guy I blew away in 32 seconds so I think that speaks for itself,” he said.
Perez certainly talks a great fight. Not only that, but his credentials do make him a logical opponent for Fury. As to who would win; Fury is much bigger and taller and he throws a ton of leather, while Perez is a naturally aggressive lefty who throws hooks from strange angles. Right now, I’d make the fight a pick ’em affair.
Again, let’s see this intriguing clash of young and hungry heavyweights made!