Promoter Oscar De La Hoya promised good competitive match ups to boxing fans in 2012. February 25th card in St Luis Missouri lives up to the promise and more. One night, two great fights will be televised live by HBO. In the main event, tough Argentine, Marcos Maidana will face Devon Alexander in a welterweight division showdown. But the opening act, a WBO super featherweight title scrap between two undefeated fighters, Adrien Broner and Eloy Perez just might steal the show. It?s a rare treat when two young and undefeated fighters on the rise face off in the ring. Such is the case with Adrien ?The Problem? Broner (22-0,18KO?S) from Cincinnati, Ohio and Eloy? The Prince? Perez (23-0-2,7KO?S) from Salinas, California.
Former decorated amateur, twenty two years old Broner won the WBO super featherweight crown last November when he stopped Vicente Martin Rodriguez in three rounds. Twenty five years old Eloy Perez is a hungry challenger. I caught up with a fighter from Northern California on Tuesday to get his take on the upcoming bout in St Luis. Advertisement
I asked Eloy how long he had to wait to get this opportunity.
?My whole life,? said Perez over the phone:?This is what a fighter always dreams of. It?s a long journey. When you get to this point of my career, this is what it?s all about. This is when dreams come through. My life can change after one night.?
With three hundred amateur bouts in his war chest, the champion, Broner is a tough out for anyone. He has speed, power and slick defense there is a very good reason why his fighting handle is ?The Problem?
?I am the problem solver,? said Perez about his future adversary:? They can call him anything they want, but he is no problem for me. I think I am better, faster, and smarter. I just want it. My reason to become a champion is different than his. It?s not about money. It?s not about fame? I want my name to be remembered. I want to go down in history.?
A true professional who trains year around Eloy Perez knows this is his chance to shine. ?Luckily I was blessed and got this opportunity,? Perez said:? Adrien Broner gave me this opportunity. You got to give him props for that. It?s going to be a great fight.? Eloy decided to give a hundred and ten percent to his training and moved his camp to Oakland, California.
?I?ve been training here at King?s gym,? said Perez:? I came here for Mike Dallas (rising light welterweight from Bakersfield) and I hired two other guys. Yes we are setting up training camp in Oakland. It?s a good atmosphere. I wanted something different to make ne fell hungrier.?
As if he needed extra motivation for this fight Eloy added one more thing for this camp. ?I am having my dad, my old man in training with me,? Perez said:? I respect the guy. He came over here when I was just eleven month old. He tried to give me a better life and he did. It?s a blessing for me to have him in camp. I am working harder. I like seeing him proud and saying ?that?s my boy. That means a lot to me if nothing else.?
The only other thing on Eloy?s mind is a championship fight in St. Luis.
?I love St. Luis,? continued Perez:? I am pumped it?s HBO. I am excited to be at that level at this stage. I am going to get into top condition. Adrien Broner is clearly fast. He is undefeated. He is a champion. But I want to see if I can compete at that level. It?s going to be fun. It?s going to be a great match up.?
Stay tuned for February 25th to see if Eloy Perez can find a solution to the problem that?s Adrien Broner.
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