TalkingBoxing Interviews
Talking Boxing with JOSE PEREZ JR.
SAT July 23, LUKE CALLAHAN - 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 super-featherweight division. Perez Jr. is coming off an impressive unanimous decision over Abraham Verdugo in his last fight held at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. And, now he returns San Jose State Events Center looking for his 8th win.
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. - intro by Brian Skjold, TalkingBoxing
TalkingBoxing.com caught up with the rising star, here is what "The Punisher" had to say!
TalkingBoxing: Last time we caught up with you, you were preparing for a May 13th bout with Abraham Verdugo, whom you decisioned...How did that fight go?
Jose Perez Jr.: Everything went well considering that I came out on top. I felt that I could've done better in that fight by keeping him away but I learned a lot that night.
TalkingBoxing: You are hovering around featherweight, have you decided to start fighting at 126 or will you continue to fight just below the super-featherweight limit? I caught this in a release, but I just wanted to clarify...
Jose Perez Jr.: We decided on moving it up to super-featherweight for this next fight. And I'll most likely be fighting at that weight for a while.
TalkingBoxing: When will you begin to move-up and secure solid rankings in regional titles?
Jose Perez Jr.: When offers are made by promoters against the ranked fighters. My manager is open to discussion to fight anyone.
TalkingBoxing: You again fight in San Jose, California this Saturday against Salvador Castaneda...How has your fan base been building there?
Jose Perez Jr.: It's been getting bigger everytime I have a fight. But our opponent has changed, it will now be Freddy Castro, he has a lot more experience and has fought two current champions. So I'm looking forward to a really tuff fight.
TalkingBoxing: Chavez Jr. is on this card as well, where do you stack up with him in a pound for pound sense? You both are basically the same age and both have a ton of talent.
Jose Perez Jr.: This is only my first year as a pro and I feel that I'm on the right track on where I should be at this point in my career. There are a lot of fighters try to rush to become a champion but I'm trying to take one fight at a time.
TalkingBoxing: You have a couple tentative dates against 'TBA' after the July 23rd fight. Are those going to take place and do you know the opponents in any of those fight?
Jose Perez Jr.: One of the scheduled fights fell through for the 13th of August. But we still have another one set for August 26th in Sacramento and we haven't got an opponent just yet.
TalkingBoxing: Are you finding the pro game difficult? At 21-years of age, and the right path you are taking, you seem to be excelling early, what are your thoughts early on in your career?
Jose Perez Jr.: No, because of the fact that I've prepared for
the transition from amateur to pro and I've made the
transition well.
TalkingBoxing: Others find it difficult, some thrive in this situation, but how has training with your father been for you?
Jose Perez Jr.: It has been difficult, but I now that he's been looking out for my best interest and that there's no one else that I would be able to trust as much as him in this game. He has let other trainers work with me many times before because he knows that he doesn't know everything and that someone else might be able to show me something better than he can.
TalkingBoxing: In your eyes, how many fights are you away from a >NABF type title fight?
Jose Perez Jr.: My coach feels that I should break into the eight rounders before I should be able to go for a title with about seventeen to twenty fights.
TalkingBoxing: Are there any fighters out there that you would like to fight, say a Robert Guerrero or anyone else like that?
Jose Perez Jr.: At this point Im taking any fight that my manager sets up for me. I'm just concentrating on training and being ready to fight anyone.
TalkingBoxing: Best of luck on Saturday in San Jose, is there anything else you would like to add?
Jose Perez Jr.: I would like to thank Art from Premier Round and
Manny from Cotoas promotions for giving me this
opportunity. Also to all of my supporters thanks
because I would have gotten this far if it were not
for you guys!
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