LOS ANGELES (July 10) – Former interim WBA light welterweight champion Johan “El Terrible” Perez (20-2-1, 13 KOs) of Caracas, Venezuela will defend his current NABA Welterweight Title against undefeated Russian boxer Dmitry “The Mechanic” Mikhaylenko (19-0, 8 KOs) in an exciting 12-round title bout at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. on Saturday, August 8 televised on HBO Latino Boxing.
“Johan Perez impressed the boxing world claiming the NABA Welterweight Title earlier this year in January,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “He will face a tough opponent in powerhouse fighter Dmitry Mikhaylenko who is hungry and has the drive to conquer, making this a must-see title fight this summer.”
“I have already proven to fans that I am a champion beating Humberto Gutierrez for this title,” said Johan Perez. “I am eager to keep the momentum going and am looking forward to fighting at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. I’m ready to face Dmitry and to show fans why I am the current titleholder.”
“Johan may have the title but I am ready to steal it on August 8,” Dmitry Mikhaylenko said. “Perez is probably feeling comfortable but he better be ready for a fight. I am ready to show the boxing world and fans what I am capable of and that I am one to watch this year.”
Undefeated heavyweight title contender Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (22-0, 19 KOs) of Miami, Florida will make his much-anticipated return to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino when he takes on Alonzo “Big Zo” Butler (30-3-1, 22 KOs) of Chattanooga, Tenn. in a 10-round heavyweight bout. Opening the telecast, Philadelphian southpaw Tevin Farmer (19-4-1, 4 KOs) will go up against Juan “El Mozo” Rodriguez (25-5, 22 KOs) of Puebla, Mexico a televised 10-round super featherweight bout.
Also featured in non-televised bouts will be undefeated fan favorites Joet Gonzalez (11-0, 4 KOs) of Los Angeles and Neeco Macias (8-0, 4 KOs) of Palm Desert, Calif. competing in respective eight-round featherweight and six-round junior middleweight bouts, and Quilisito Madera (1-0) of Las Vegas will be featured in a four-round middleweight bout. Two-time Brazilian Olympic team member Everton Lopes (3-0, 1 KO) will be featured in a six-round lightweight bout, and Los Angeles’ own Lionel Davis (10-0) will open the night in a six-round heavyweight bout. Opponents have yet to be announced.
Tickets are on sale Friday, July 10 and are priced at $25, $35 and $45 and can be purchased at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Johan Perez vs. Dmitry Mikhaylenko is a 12-round welterweight title bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico, Live It To Believe It! Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the first bell rings at 5:30 p.m. The HBO Latino telecast airs live at 10:30 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT).
Former interim WBA light welterweight champion, Johan Perez from Caracas, Venezuela, made his professional debut in March 2005 and racked up an impressive 14 wins before falling to the always-tough Pablo Cesar Cano in July 2012. He immediately rebounded with a win against Steve Forbes when he made his U.S. debut in January 2013 and continued his streak with three additional wins. After a defeat at the hands of Mauricio Herrera, Perez triumphed over Humberto Mauro Gutierrez in his first bout of 2015 and looks to extend his streak on August 8.
Hailing from Krasnodar, Russia, Dmitry Mikhaylenko made his professional debut against Ivan Kaberkon in July 2009. The fighter accumulated 16 wins in his home country before making his U.S. professional debut. He boasts recent victories over Felipe De la Paz Teniente, Ronald Cruz, and Sechew Powell. He will look to continue his impressive winning streak in his third fight in the U.S.
Undefeated Cuban heavyweight, Luis “King Kong” Ortiz has had an explosive career knocking out opponent after opponent since his professional debut in 2010. Ortiz has faced and defeated some of the toughest fighters of the sport, including Luis Andres Pineda, Henry Saenz, Alex Gonzalez and Lateef Kayode, all while adding the WBA FECARBOX Heavyweight Title, the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Title and the WBO and WBC Latino Heavyweight titles to his collection. Last month, Ortiz returned after a seven-month hiatus stopping Byron Polley in a first round technical knock out at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
Alonzo Butler, the veteran heavyweight from Chattanooga, Tenn., made a strong debut in his hometown in October 2000 against Danny Wofford. The heavyweight kept his winning streak alive until June 2008 where he lost against tough competitor Friday Ahunanya. Butler quickly rebounded with two more wins against Douglas Robertson and Willie Perryman. After a loss to Travis Walker in 2011, he defeated Louis Monaco in 2013. He most recently was defeated by Brice RitaniCoe in 2014. August 8 will be Butler’s first bout of 2015 where he will look for the win against Luis Ortiz.
Tevin Farmer of Philadelphia made his professional debut against Oscar Santana in February 2011, and after four early losses, has rebounded racking up an impressive record of 19 wins against such recent formidable opponents as Angel Luna, Vicktor Chernous, Dominic Coca, Emanuel Gonzalez, and Noel Echevarria. Farmer will look to add to his current twelve-fight winning streak as he makes his Indio-debut at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
Juan Rodriguez, the 27-year-old fighter from Puebla, Mexico, made his professional debut in Mexico defeating Eduardo Crescencio in March 2007. The veteran fighter went on to rack up an impressive number of wins, only succumbing to a handful of tough opponents throughout his career. Most recently, Rodriguez triumphed over Omar Lina on June 20 winning the vacant WBC super featherweight youth title in Tlaxcala, Mexico. August 8 will mark the third U.S. fight and first appearance at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
Rising prospect Joet Gonzalez of Glendora, California has steadily climbed the professional ranks since his debut in 2012. Most recently, Gonzalez impressed fans with wins over his opponents Jose Angel Beranza at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on May 22 and Ali Gonzalez on April 2 at LA FIGHT CLUB. On August 8, Gonzalez will look to add another win to his resume when he returns to Indio.
Quilisito Madera of Las Vegas made an impressive debut defeating Jesus Lopez in Fresno Calif. in October 2014. August 8 will be Madera’s second professional bout where he will look to clench the victory at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
Neeco Macias is a familiar face to fans in Indio with August 8 slated to be his sixth appearance at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Popular southpaw Macias knows how to attract a crowd and the 23-year-old super welterweight will look to add to his win total and fan base when he takes on an opponent to be determined in a six-round fight. A professional since 2013, Macias is coached by his father Al and this family affair has resulted in eight consecutive victories without a loss, including an October 2014 stoppage over Roberto Crespo at Fantasy Springs.
Brazilian rising star Everton Lopes will return to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, the venue where he made his professional debut clenching the victory against Evan Woolsey in February 2015. Lopes, a two-time Brazilian Olympic team member, went on to impressively defeat his next two opponents, Robert Alexander Seyam at the April-edition of LA FIGHT CLUB at the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles and Marcelo Ezequiel Mesa in his home country in June of this year.
Former pro-basketball player turned boxer, Lionel Davis of Los Angeles, made his professional debut in June 2011 defeating Michael Finney. He went on to accumulate an impressive nine more victories, making him a tough opponent for any competitor in the ring. The 6’7 heavyweight most recently defeated Jorge Alberto Ramos in February 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. August 8 will mark the 31-year-old’s first fight of 2015 as well as his first appearance at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOLatino, and, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/hbolatino, and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing.