Rey Perez suffers close UD defeat in Mexico

Filipino super bantam Rey Perez loses a tough and spirited twelve round battle against former two-time world champion, Hugo Cazares.

Cazares, 34, the former junior flyweight and junior bantamweight champion of the world outpointed the visiting Perez via scores of 114-113 twice and 114-112 in a super bantamweight bout Saturday night.

The twenty two year old Perez from Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte engaged Cazares in an exciting see-saw bout at the Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Both fighters were active and aggressive during the whole twelve rounder, hitting each other with shots to the head and body in close quarter infighting.

Cazares (38-7-2 , 26 KOs) relied on his experience to weather Perez's advances and attacks. The former champion did not back down against his younger foe which resulted in a good match between the two. He won the vacant WBC International Silver Super Bantamweight belt in the process.

The young Perez, dropped his equally young record to 17 wins (3 KOs) and 3 losses but claimed that he was a victim of a hometown decision when Philboxing talked to him after the fight.

"Na-hometown decision ako, kahit mapanuod pa natin sa You Tube ang fight." (I lost because of a hometown decision, even if we watch the fight again in YouTube.) expressed the disappointed Perez.

"Marami pong nagsabi na Mexicans na panalo daw ako." (A lot of Mexicans were saying I won the fight.) he added.

Perez stated that he wants a rematch with Cazares.

This was his first fight in Mexico.