After going toe to toe in an eagerly awaited fight where neither guy lost anything and both guys helped there cause for future paydays. Both Perez & Mares former amateur rivals and good friends squared off for the first time as pro’s though not likely the last time. Over twelve fast paced rounds 2 of the 3 judges couldn’t separate them.
Proceedings started with Gary Shaw talking about Yonnhy Perez saying how fond he was of him “Yonnhy truly is one of the sweetest people i’ve ever met, he’s very loyal”
He continued with a story about Perez. “When Yonnhy won his last fight we (Shaw & Alex Camponovo who is Thompson’s general manager) said we’d come and visit him in Colombia. We flew over and stayed in a nice hotel and then drove to Yonnhy’s house. On the way the neighbourhoods got worse the streets weren’t paved. We arrived at Yonnhy’s house it was made from Cinderblock and there were curtains hanging in the door ways inside acting as doors there were openings for windows but no windows. I said we need to give him some money. If he wins his next fight he can move to a nicer neighbourhood”
To which Perez answered “I will never leave, this is my home, these are my people, this is where i live”
If that’s not enough to show how humble Perez is then Shaw added that Perez stays at trainer Danny Zamora’s home when he’s in America training and sends all his money home each month to his family except $400 which is what he uses for his rent and food.
“Danny is one of the best trainers around” Shaw added when talking about Perez long-time trainer.
Shaw continued saying he’d speak to Richard Schaefer about a rematch but also added he will also speak to Fernando Beltran who was on hand about a possible fight with newly minted WBC/WBO champion Fernando Montiel. It also came to light that Perez had hurt his hand in the fourth or fifth round the extent of the injury wasn’t divulged.
At this time it was Perez turn to take the podium “Thank you guys, you saw a great fight, Abner’s a great fighter and friend”
“Abner will become a world champion. He has four ways WBC, WBA & WBO but not by winning the IBF title”
“You guys are on about a rematch but where going to sit down and see. Darchinyan called me out and that’s a fight i want”
Next to the dais was Oscar De La Hoya turned the assembled pressroom’s attention to his guy “Yonnhy gave a great fight, but we witnessed a star in Abner, we feel we have a great fighter”
Mares next took his time to speak “You guys saw a great fight, i showed i’m a warrior but i won the fight”
“I fight for the people and the people saw i won the fight”
“Lets do a rematch”
“Yonny didn’t close like a champion in the twelfth i did”
Quick to speak up for his man Gary Shaw countered “Abner your good looking, you speak two languages. But Yonnhy came in with the belt and left with it. You need to remain humble”
At this point Rafeal Marquez & Israel Vazquez entered the press room.
It was announced the live gate was 9,200 generating gate receipts of 549,000.
