Perez Returns February 4 in Puerto Rico!

By E.A. Sirota

Coming off the toughest test of his young career, Newark's Michael Angelo "The Artist" Perez (11-0, 5 KO) is excited to be fighting in Puerto Rico again next Friday. The bout will take place in Lares, the hometown of Perez's parents, and will be televised on Telefutura. The Golden Boy promoted lightweight is returning to Puerto Rico after defeating the dangerous Jose Hernandez in an exciting 8 round decision this past December. His opponent has not been finalized, but Marcos Herrera of Colorado is penciled in for now.

"I was surprised at how much love they showed me" Perez said of how well he was received by the Puerto Rican fans,"even though it was my first time fighting down there, it was sold out and that's why we're going back." Perez expects an even better turnout in the place he was almost born. "My mother was 8 months pregnant when she came here, so I tell people, "I was made in Puerto Rico."'

Even though he enjoys fighting in his second home, and a place he visits whenever he has the opportunity, Perez is eager to fight on one of the upcoming cards at Newark's Prudential Center. "I've fought all over the place LA, Vegas, Texas but I've only fought in Jersey three times. I'd like to give my family and friends another chance to come out and support me."


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Perez Outpoints Hernandez in a Thriller!

By E.A. Sirota

Michael Angelo "The Artist" Perez defeated the dangerous Jose Hernandez in an action packed eight round fight at “Sammy” Rodríguez Coliseum in Aguas Buenas Puerto Rico. Perez's superior foot and hand speed proved to be the deciding factor as the twenty year old Newark earned the eleventh victory of his pro career.

Even though he gave up three inches of height and two inches of reach to the 6'0 Hernandez, Perez was able to control the action from the outside, darting in behind precise lead left hooks. The Mexican-American Hernandez actually got the better of the in-close exchanges, but he absorbed a hard combination each time the shorter Perez was allowed close the distance.

Hernandez did land good number of power punches, and even reeled off about twenty unanswered shots in the third. However, Perez displayed a great deal of resilience as he came back and eventually stumbled Hernandez with a beautiful left hook in the fifth. Perez then showed the patience of a veteran fighter as he picked his shots and saved something for the later rounds.

In the end the scores were 78-74 and 77-75 for Perez, while the third judge had it 78-74 for Hernandez.

Perez is now 11-0-1, 5KO, while Hernandez drops to 10-4, 4KO.

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Newark's Perez Looks to Stay Unbeaten Friday in Puerto Rico

By Eugene Sirota

Lightweight prospect Michael Angelo “The Artist” Perez (10-0-1, 5KO) faces the stiffest test of his young career when he takes on the dangerous Jose Hernandez (10-3, 4KO) this Friday on a Telefutura televised card.

Perez, who compiled a impressive 112-10 record as an amateur, turned pro in 2008 after winning a National Golden Gloves title. This will be the first scheduled eight rounder for the twenty-year-old Perez, who is signed by Golden Boy Promotions.

Looking to play the role of spoiler will be Fort Worth's Jose “Loco” Hernandez. This is familiar territory for the twenty three year-old Hernandez. Since dropping a decision to Matt Remilard in 2006, he has knocked off Noe Balanos and Juan Garcia, who were both only once-beaten fighters before their bouts with Hernandez.


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Duran Conquers the Predator in North Bergen!

Paterson’s Ossie “Ghanaian Gladiator” Duran has shared the squared circle with a number of top fighters, but last night's victory over Matt Vanda will likely be one of the most memorable moments of his career when it is all said and done.

Duran was rewarded with something that many fighters who like him, spend much of their career in their opponents’ backyard, never will; a hometown showcase.

“I used to go people’s backyards, beat them and (get robbed),” Duran said in regards to many of his losses. “It is nice to have people supporting (me).”

Duran made the most of his hometown bout, dominating rugged veteran Matt Vanda in the main event of the Gulf Stream Group’s “Rumble at the Park” from North Bergen’s Schuetzen Park.

From the opening tick to the final bell, Duran dictated the pace of this middleweight bout with well timed jabs and solid straight right hands. On a number of occasions, Vanda threw multi-punch combinations, but generally struggled to break through Duran’s high guard.

Duran landed many clean and crisp punches but his Saint Paul, MN based opponent was game throughout the contest and wasn't in danger of being stopped.

Scores were 100-90 twice, matching GSFS' final tally, and 99-91.

With Vanda out of the way, the Ghanaian is eager to share the squared circle with any top middleweight.

“I am ready for anybody at 160. I am hungry, need to feed my family and am ready to (fight) anybody out there.”



In the co-feature, North Bergen based Peruvian junior welterweight Juan “JZ” Zegarra scored a second round TKO against Bryan “The Brick” Abraham of Schenectady, NY.

Both men traded hard blows and neglected any type of defense in the opening round, with Zegarra scoring a knockdown after Abraham’s gloves touched the canvas following a crisp straight left hand. Zegarra and Abraham continued to trade in the second stanza until a huge right hand seemed to have the latter out on his feet. A follow up barrage from Zegarra forced Referee Earl Morton to stop the contest at 1:46.

Although Zegarra once again displayed his impressive power, Abraham and many ringsiders believed Morton pulled the plug too quickly.

“I was a little dazed but I wasn’t out,” said Abraham. “It’s not like I wasn’t punching back. We traded some good shots and the referee let him recoup but I didn’t have the chance to (recover).”

Zegarra is now 6-0 with 6 knockouts. Abraham slips to 2-4-2 with 2 KO’s.



Todd “The Viking” Eriksson shut out Philadelphia’s Joe Dunn in a four round super middleweight affair. Eriksson, who like Duran has spent much of his career on his opponents' turf, did his best impersonation of Paul Williams throughout the contest, The Dover native kept his hands moving at all times and never gave the defensive minded Dunn a chance to get in the fight.

Eriksson is now 2-4-1 with 1 knockout. Dunn remains winless at 0-3.



Less than a month after an entertaining majority decision victory over Marquis Jackson, Juan “The Beast” Rodriguez Jr. returned to the ring with an impressive first round KO over chronically inactive Salim “The Dream” Al Quaadir. Zegarra was a bit more calm than usual and found his mark quickly. The popular Union City welterweight dropped Al Quaadir with a hard left hook and then put him down for good shortly thereafter with a hard body shot at 2:57.

“I went into the fight (much calmer) this time,” said the former amateur standout. “Even though (Al Quaadir) has a 12 year layoff you never know how long he has been training for so I took this fight very seriously.

Rodriguez, who according to Promoter Andre Kut will fight again in early 2011, is now 5-0 with 3 knockouts. Al Quaadir returns to Akron, OH with a 1-3 record.



Lightweight Deano “Bad News” Burrell entered the paid ranks in spectacular fashion, stopping John Passantino inside of two rounds. Burrell, who according to Manager Rich Komissar had a 78-5 amateur record, displayed an outstanding offensive arsenal in the opening round, dropping his Selden, NY based opponent at the bell with a straight left hand.

Passantino, a fighter who can be best described as too tough for his own good, ate many more punches in the second before an impressive combination gave Referee Eddie Cotton no choice but to end his night at 1:44 of the second round.

Burrell, a Brooklyn resident originally from the UK, is 1-0 with 1 KO. Passantino slides to 0-2.



In the opening bout of the evening, Paterson’s Donald “Stone Face” Bernard had a tougher time than expected with Fort Wayne, IN’s Rogelio Sanchez. Bernard, a junior welterweight who fought at 150 lbs in this bout, was the far smaller man and struggled with Sanchez’ size. Both fighters landed cleanly, with Bernard doing just enough to pull out a four round split decision.

Scores were 39-37 twice for Bernard and 39-37 for Sanchez.

Bernard is now 2-0. Sanchez remains winless at 0-2.

Notable ringsiders included former junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt of Paterson, former junior flyweight champion and North Bergen native Carlos Tamara, 2008 National Golden Gloves and unbeaten prospect Michael Angelo "The Artist" Perez, Carlos "Mina" Zambrano and Jonathan Maicelo, both of North Bergen, and champion NABF Featherweight champion Maureen Shea.

PHOTO CREDITS FOR BERNARD, ERIKSSON, BURRELL AND RODRIGUEZ: ALAINA GITTER

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"You're Next" Card Preview!

By Dylon Silversey

Tomorrow evening, live from the Prudential Center in Newark, Zab “Super” Judah and knockout artist Lucas Matthysse headline what promises to be a night filled with action from end to end. Robert Guerrero and Vicente Escobedo will co-feature HBO’s Boxing After Dark program, another fight that contests two skilled boxers and should produce some fireworks.

Aside from the past champions on their way to reclaiming glory and relative unknowns getting ready to show casual boxing fans what they are all about, the great state of New Jersey will once again feature some of its best fighters. Along with many from the tri-state area.

The night will kick off at 6:00 with undefeated Ghanaian prospect Bastie Samir (5-0 5KO) squaring off against Damion Reed (2-3 1KO) from Reidsville, NC. Samir looks to start the fireworks early and continue his great start and record another knockout.

Newark’s own Angel Concepcion (2-0 0KO) will bring the local flavor to the arena as he steps into the ring against Philadelphia’s Maurice Amaro (1-2 0KO). Concepcion is excited to be able to once again show his ability in front of his hometown at “The Rock” and hopes to continue on his path to become a champion.

Middletown’s Tyrone Luckey (1-0 1KO) made his debut earlier this year at The Prudential Center, knocking out Larry Yanez 54 seconds into the first round. Luckey hopes to continue that theme as Alex Monte (1-1 0KO) comes to New Jersey from Lawrence, MA to try and spoil Luckey’s second fight. In the fourth fight of the night, Kywame Hill (1-5 1KO) and Long Island’s Michael Brooks (2-0 1KO) will match up in a four round contest. Twenty year old Eduardo Alicea will make his debut against Danny Pastrana (2-2). Alicea is an excellent amateur boxer who is signed to Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

Canada’s undefeated light middleweight Mikael Zewski (4-0 3 KO) will battle Ardick Butler (5-2 2 KO) in the last four rounder of the night. Zewski is another boxer on the Golden Boy roster and was a four-time Canadian National Champion.

Michael Angelo "The Artist" Perez (9-0 4KO) will make his Newark debut Saturday night, facing Hevinson Herrera (14-6 9KO). The crowd should be amped up by this time to cheer on their hometown hero, and Perez will be excited as well. We spoke to Perez earlier last month, about how he felt about fighting in Newark “I want to perform well out there. It’s a long time coming.” Another one of the Golden Boy fighters featured on the card, Perez has the chance to show the boxing experts in press row just who he is and what he can do. The heavy handed Herrera should give Perez the toughest test of his short, yet successful career.

The undefeated, former US Olympian Sadam Ali (9-0 5KO), will face Gary Bergeron (12-6 7KO) in the first eight round bout of the evening. Ali, from Brooklyn, showed some slick boxing last time out, knocking out Lenin Arroyo in the fifth round. Just like in the Perez fight that precedes it, Ali will step in the ring with someone who has proven he can knock someone out. But, like Perez, I think Ali will show the world, just how good he really is and gets some notoriety on the national level.

Cincinnati, Ohio will be represented at “The Rock”, when undefeated prospect Adrien Broner (17-0 14KO) will face the seasoned veteran Ilido Julio (40-19 35KO). This eight round super featherweight matchup could prove to be the dark horse as far as excitement goes Saturday night. With an astonishing 85% knockout percentage between the two fighters, it does not seem likely that they will go all eight rounds.

Roberto Guerrero (27-1-1 18KO) and Vicente Escobedo (22-2 14 KO) will open up HBO’s Boxing After Dark program, in a fight that many are excited to watch. Guerrero is coming off a huge victory over Joel Casamayor in a unanimous decision in late July of this year. He is an excellent southpaw who should give Escobedo problems all fight long.

Escobedo comes off of a third round knockout of Carlos Urias earlier this year, after taking a tough split decision loss to Michael Katsidis at the end of last year. The rounds in that bout were close enough in almost every single one of them that one judge had Escobedo losing 110-118, yet another had him winning 116-112. Another excellent bout on the card, and should kick off the live coverage nicely.

In the main event of the evening, Zab “Super” Judah (39-6 27KO) and Lucas Matthysse (27-0 25KO) will fight for the vacant WBO NABO light welterweight title. Judah takes a giant step up in competition when he squares off with the 28 year old knockout artist from Argentina.

Judah dominated Jose Armando Santa Cruz in the main event of an ESPN Friday Night Fights event earlier this summer from the Prudential Center, and hopes for more of the same Saturday. Many boxing experts commend Judah for skipping over another fight that would basically be a breeze for the former champion, and taking a fight with a dangerous prospect who could possibly give Judah major problems.

However, Matthysse’s record may be a tad misleading. If you look down the roster of fighters that he has previously faced, you may not even recognize one fighter. Compare that to the list of Judah, and you have a handful of hall of fame fighters. Judah seems rejuvenated for this “second coming” and with his ring experience, speed and skill, this could end up being an impressive victory for “Super” Judah.

GardenStateFightScene will be live at the Prudential Center covering all the action throughout the night. Be sure to visit GardenStateFightScene.com for all the updates from Newark!

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