Mike 'The Rebel' Perez, the Irish-based Cuban, sealed his first Prizefighter Heavyweight victory on Saturday at Alexandra Palace to extend his unbeaten career to 16 victories following the first round stoppage of 6'9" American Tye Fields.
Fighting out of the Watergrasshill Boxing Club in Cork (Ireland) Perez provided a clinical display of boxing to seal victory, following an evening which saw the sole Englishman Michael Sprott despatched in the quarter-final stage by Fields.
On his run to a maiden Prizefighter title, Perez had impressed with a convincing victory over Trinidad & Tobago's Kerston Maxwell on points (following a first round knockdown) and a 54-second stoppage of former French heavyweight champion Gregory Tony.
Fields had progressed through the short-format bouts with a split decision win over Sprott in the quarter final and a 74-second stoppage of German Konstantin Airich. The Canadian-based giant was carrying bruising around the left eye from the bout with Sprott and he never got going in the final, where the powerful 6'0" Cuban's work-rate drove him to victory.
A large traveling army of passionate Irish & Cuban fans, including Perez's dad & younger brother, were delighted to see 'The Rebel' lift the crown - justification for the boxer's relocation to Ireland in 2008. The Watergrasshill faithful hope that this will be the start of big things for Perez and his stablemates from the Cork gym.
Speaking after his victory, the Prizefighter champion said that he would be sending some of the £32,000 prize money back to his mum in Cuba and stated that his next goal would be a bout with David Haye or Wladimir Klitschko. What will come next for this talented and ambitious 25-year-old?
Eyes on the Prize