Eloy Perez: My Time To Shine, Take Away Broner’s Dream!
NABO junior lightweight titlist Eloy “The Prince” Perez went through 10 hard rounds of sparring at King’s Gym of Oakland on Friday as he continues to prepare for his Feb. 25 challenge of Adrien “The Problem” Broner’s WBO 130-pound world title.
“Here at King’s Gym, it’s a good atmosphere,” said Perez, who is walking around at 138 pounds for the moment. “It’s where champions are made, and come February 25th, I’m going to be prepared.”
Trainer Max Garcia and his son, Sam, worked Perez’ corner while CSNBayArea.com’s 2011 Northern California Trainer of the Year Virgil Hunter counseled junior welterweight Mike Dallas Jr. and lightweight Stan Martyniouk, who did five rounds apiece with Perez.
Dallas, a boxer-puncher, and Martyniouk, who is more of a stylist, are both taller than the 5’6’’ Perez (23-0-2, 6 KOs), which is a similar situation he will face against Cincinnati’s Broner (22-0, 18 KOs), who has an inch on him.
Over the course of the 10 rounds, the order of the day for “The Prince” was the left hand, as the orthodox Perez displayed a strong jab as well as a very accurate counter hook that he employed in the pocket.
“We’re doing a little more boxing,” said the elder Garcia. “The last few fights, he was having to go in there, and guys came in to fight, so he was happy to go in there and go at it.
“But now we’re using a little more movement, a little more feints, a little more angles, [and] making [our opponent] reach. It’s that old Familton Boxing,” Garcia added, referring to the late Don Familton, Perez’ former trainer.
Perez, who traveled north from his usual home of Salinas to the Bay Area to hold camp, addressed his war of words with Broner, who has continued to direct disparaging remarks toward his foe.
“I’ve seen [Perez] in the press conference,” Broner told BoxingScene’s Jake Donovan on Friday. “He had a lot of fat under the chin.”
“It doesn’t bother me,” Perez responded. “I saw the pictures on the press conference. I did look kind of fluffy, but I’m not fluffy. I’m always in shape. I’m always ready. But he’s a world champ. I can’t underestimate him. He’s done his job, and he’s done the dream, and now it’s my time to shine and take it from him.”
Broner-Perez is the co-feature to Devon Alexander’s welterweight scrap with Marcos Maidana, which will be televised on HBO and all take place at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
By Ryan Maquiñana