The Rebel Perez: I will beat Jennings and secure dream shot at WBC world title

THE Cuban Rebel Mike Perez has vowed to beat Bryant Jennings before going on to become WBC heavyweight champion of the World.

The Cork based Cuban takes on fellow undefeated heavyweight Jennings on Saturday 24 in Texas on knowing victory will secure him a shot at a coveted world crown,

The winner of the 12-round bout, which plays out on the same card as Macklin v Geale, will become the mandatory challenger for the  WBC Heavyweight Title, which was vacated by longtime champion Vitali Klitschko  earlier this year.

Perez, who is rumoured to be training with Adam Booth ahead of this clash, is confident he can cash in The Bank Centre and realise a dream.

“My dream has always been to fight for the heavyweight championship,” said  Perez. “This has been my dream since I first started boxing and I have  sacrificed a lot to get this opportunity. Jennings and I have been on crash  course for a while and now with so much at risk I’m sure it will bring out the  best in both of us. However, as good as Jennings is I will be victorious.”

The 29-year-old Jennings comes into the fight on the back of a career best  victory-a HBO televised tenth round knockout of Poland’s Artur  Szpilka on January 25 at Madison Square Garden in New York City-and is also confident his hand will be raised on the night.

Indeed Jennings is planning to conquer the division not just Perez next month.

“The world has been desperately seeking a heavyweight to take over the  division and I believe that person is Me,” said Jennings. “By defeating Mike  Perez, I will position myself as the mandatory position in the WBC.  My promoter  Gary Shaw ensures me that if I win this fight; I’ll be looking at a potential  world title bout soon.  My main focus is winning this fight against Perez and  I’m doing everything in the gym to make that a reality.  I’ll be ready to go  come May 24th.”

 

 

 

 

A highly successful amateur in his native Cuba, the 29-year-old Perez has  compiled a record of 20-0-1 (12KO’s), since moving to Ireland and turning  professional in 2008.

Perez has made two previous appearances on HBO, on NOVEMBER 2, against  Magomed Abdusalamov from Madison Square Garden in New York City and more  recently facing Carlos Takam on JANUARY 18 from the Bell Centre in Montreal,  Canada.