Perez Drops Rivera, Keeps WBA Interim Flyweight Title in Albuquerque Homecoming

ALBUQUERQUE — Two years ago Abraham Perez was in a coma after a near-fatal drowning. Saturday night he was fully in command, beating Yankiel Rivera with a steady stream of right hands to keep his WBA interim flyweight title in front of his hometown crowd.

Perez (16-0, 7 KOs) won a lopsided unanimous decision at Kiva Auditorium on DAZN, scored 118-109, 120-107 and 119-109, according to Salita Promotions' official results release. It was the first defense of the interim belt he won in June. The WBA also confirmed the result. To be precise about the hardware: this is the interim title, not the full WBA world championship.

Perez dropped Rivera with a right-left combination late in the second round. The Puerto Rican got up but bled badly from the nose, and Perez sent him stumbling backward with a straight right in the fourth. Moments later a clash of heads opened a cut over Perez's left eye, which his corner kept under control. From there it was Rivera walking in off balance and Perez picking at his chin.

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"To have my family, my team and my hometown behind me means everything," Perez said in the release. "Rivera is a very tough fighter, and I have a lot of respect for him. ... I'm ready for the next challenge. I have a lot of respect for the champions in this division, but my goal is to become a world champion. Whoever is next, I'll be ready."

Promoter Dmitriy Salita, staging his company's first New Mexico show alongside Wynn Records, called Perez "a true inspiration, both inside and outside the ring," adding: "His journey from literally being on the brink of death to becoming one of the best fighters in boxing is nothing short of remarkable."

Oberlton wins one-handed. In the DAZN co-feature, unbeaten light heavyweight Atif Oberlton (18-0, 14 KOs) took a split decision over Deon Nicholson (23-2, 19 KOs), 96-94 Nicholson and 98-92 twice for Oberlton, after what the promoter describes as a likely torn left bicep in the early rounds. "I had to figure out how to win with one hand," Oberlton said. "If he wants a rematch, I'll give him one with two arms." Any injury diagnosis has not been announced.

Rest of the card. Heavyweight Pryce Taylor (14-0, 8 KOs) edged former Ukrainian Olympian Tsotne Rogava by split decision (96-94, 93-97, 96-94 per FIGHTMAG), and heavyweight Sardius Simmons (11-0, 6 KOs) went eight rounds for the first time to outpoint Cesar Navarro (78-74, 77-75, 77-75). Simmons graded himself a "C-plus" and said Floyd Mayweather told him mid-fight to "go to the body more."

On the Wynn Records Network portion, Pedro Taduran (21-4-1, 14 KOs) retained his IBF mini flyweight title with a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten mandatory Brandon Moreno, 120-108 and 115-113 twice. Da'Velle Smith (16-0, 10 KOs) knocked out Tariq Green in the first round, Jose Luis Sanchez beat Josh Torres by unanimous decision in their long-awaited rematch, Jose Nieves (14-0) won a six-round decision, and Pan American Games gold medalist Parminder Pannu won his pro debut 40-36 over Peter Balderas.

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Kimster's take: Perez didn't just win; he won like a guy who believes he's got nothing to lose because he's already been closer to the edge than any opponent can push him. The next step is getting "interim" off the nameplate, and that's a negotiation, not a formality.

Catch up on the Perez–Rivera weigh-in and the final press conference. Think you can call how long the next one lasts? Try Guess the Rounds on Boxbid before Perez's next fight.