TalkingBoxing Interviews
Talking Boxing with JOSE PEREZ JR.
FRI May 13, BRIAN SKJOLD - Jose Perez Jr. is the prototype for a young professional fighter. At just 21 years old he has all the qualities of a future world champion. He’s strong, confident, talented and he’s ready to punish the featherweight division. Perez Jr. is coming off an impressive 49 second KO over Ginto Maezono in his last fight held at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. And, now he returns to the same venue looking to impress once again.
With the amateur credentials most fighters only dream of (147-20), each time Jose Perez Jr. steps into the ring he has a distinct advantage over his opponent.
“I have five national titles. I’m a five time Golden Gloves champion. I won the Silver Gloves in 1997. In 2003, I won the Everlast Men’s Championship. It’s the experience, not the titles that helps me in the ring. All the experience you get when you travel around the world fighting all kinds of different styles. You know that you’re ready for anything then.”
Along with all his amateur achievements, Jose Perez Jr. was able to gain even more valuable experience by training with none other than Marco Antonio Barrera.
“I worked with Barrera before he fought with Pacquiao. He was pretty tough. I saw the way you have to work. He trains really, really hard. He goes four minute rounds for ten rounds and he spars with three of us. He was trying to knock me out. I was learning a lot, real quick. I had to. It was pretty tough. I know that helped a lot. I know it’s going to be pretty tough to match up with those guys later on down the line.”
Right now the featherweight division is one of the toughest in boxing. To go along with the many good contenders, there is also a very talented group of prospects coming up through the ranks. Jose Perez Jr. knows he’s one of those prospects, but feels he has what it takes to separate himself from the pack.
“My amateur background and my ability to adapt really well to every fight. I’m able to do what ever I want. I can fight if I have to. I can box if I have to. I can do both in and out. It doesn’t really matter. I can do it all.”
On Friday, May 13, Perez Jr. will step back into the ring against an opponent he knows very little about. This could cause problems for some fighters, but Jose feels he’s right at home and the situation plays right into his hands.
“I don’t really know that much about him, except that he has seven fights. We only got him a few days ago. It doesn’t really bother me. I know I’m ready for anything. We always train for everything. Whatever I see I can adapt to. I try to look for what works. What’s the easiest way to get at him. I’ll probably just throw them out in the first round and just go from there, since I don’t really know anything about him. In the amateurs you never knew who you were going to fight. So, it’s pretty much the same.”
Early on in a boxer’s career, it’s easy to be excited about your future. And, Jose Perez, Jr. looks to have as bright a future as any prospect in the game today. He’s excited to get a chance to show his talents and to shine in the near future.
“Hopefully winning some kind of championship and having good quality fights. Making a little bit of money. Hopefully I’ll be a world champion. I want to take my time, but I don’t want to go too slow.”
In a lot of ways, Perez Jr. fits the perfect boxer mold. He’s been fighting since he was ten years old. His father got him into boxing at a young age. His amateur style has been compared to Oscar de la Hoya. He tries to borrow from legends like Marco Antonio Barrera and Pernell Whitaker and adapt his style accordingly. But, as Perez Jr. points out, he doesn’t fit all the stereotypes.
“You know how a lot of boxers come from the ghetto? I’m not that type of boxer. I don’t have a bad background. Everything is good and clean. I just got into the sport to learn how to defend myself and I had a good knack for it, so I stuck with it. You don’t have to be from the ghetto to be tough.”
In his 7th pro fight Jose Perez Jr. looks to be impressive once again. He wants his fans and everyone else watching to know he won’t disappoint.
“It’s going to be a real good fight. If it’s not going to end quick with a knock-out than it’s going to end up being a real entertaining fight. Come check me out and watch out for me when I come up.”
It seems like this young punishing prospect has unlimited potential and he plans to put the hurt on the featherweight division.
Check out the Jose Perez Jr. website. www.josethepunisherperezjr.com
