sa国际传媒官网网页入口

COMBAT SPORTS

Perez dispenser: sa国际传媒官网网页入口 boxer nabs interim flyweight title

Local fighter keeps perfect record, setting stage for potential bigger bouts

Abraham Perez celebrates after defeating Esneth Domingo in their April 4 bout at the Embassy Suites in sa国际传媒官网网页入口. Perez defeated Jonathan Gonzalez by split decision for the WBA interim flyweight title on Saturday.
Published

Intuitive + unpredictable = WBA interim flyweight champion.

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 Abraham Perez, facing down the toughest opponent of his career on Sunday in front of an international audience on DAZN, defeated former world champion Jonathan Gonzalez by split decision.

After 12 physical yet tactical rounds, one judge scored the bout for Gonzalez 115-113. Two judges, however, saw it 115-113 for Perez 鈥 awarding Perez, the challenger, the interim title belt.

The Journal, scoring off the DAZN streaming, had it 116-112 for Perez.

Perez improved his still-spotless record to 15-0 with seven knockouts. Gonzalez, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, is 29-5-1.

A relatively subdued Perez was his harshest critic during a brief post-fight interview in the ring.

Asked if he felt he鈥檇 done enough to win, Perez said, 鈥淵es, but I still don鈥檛 feel like that was my best.鈥

Asked what he felt he could do better, he said, 鈥淛ust stay a little bit more on my feet, stay more sharp with my punches.

鈥淪hoot, I鈥檓 a flyweight (112 pounds). I should throw more (punches) than that.鈥

During the fight, the DAZN crew praised Perez鈥檚 ability to adjust on the fly 鈥 鈥渋ntuitive,鈥 was the word used 鈥 and his unpredictability, giving Gonzalez different looks.

鈥淵ou never know what he鈥檚 going to do next,鈥 one of the broadcasters said.

Gonzalez, a 35-year-old veteran of 15 years in the pro ranks, won the WBO light flyweight (108-pound) title in 2021 and successfully defended three times before moving up in weight. The shorter fighter, he had his best moments Sunday when pressing the fight inside and imposing his physicality.

It was Perez, though, who landed the cleaner shots throughout 鈥 using movement, maintaining distance and landing creative combinations, mostly to the head, while not ignoring the body.

There were no knockdowns, and neither fighter appeared hurt or dazed at any point.

In boxing, an interim title suggests the holder of that belt might be next in line for a shot at the 鈥渞egular鈥 champion. But Gonzalez, who defeated Yankiel Rivera for the WBA interim belt in January, was required to defend against Perez instead.

Perez, asked if he鈥檇 like to challenge WBA flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval, said, 鈥淚f he鈥檚 willing, then yessir, I would like it.鈥

Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) last fought in July 2025 and, according to , does not have a fight scheduled.

More likely for Perez, perhaps, is a defense of the title he won on Sunday. As is customary, Salita Promotions, which staged Sunday鈥檚 card, has options it can exercise.

鈥淥ne of the great boxing towns in the United States is sa国际传媒官网网页入口, New Mexico,鈥 promoter Dmitriy Salita said in the ring. 鈥淣ow we have a world (interim) champion, and maybe the first defense is there.鈥