Abraham Perez Scores A Split Decision Over Jonathan Gonzalez To Become Interim WBA Flyweight Champion

Abraham Perez is the new WBA interim flyweight titleholder.

Perez defeated Jonathan “La Bomba” Gonzalez on Sunday evening in the main event of a Salita Promotions event at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The scores were 115-113 two times for Perez, with one judge having 115-113 for Gonzalez.

The bout signaled a massive step-up in competition for the 27-year-old Perez. Despite a deep amateur pedigree, including winning the 2019 Olympic Trials, Perez of Albuquerque, New Mexico, had been relatively untested as a pro. That didn’t matter. He boxed masterfully in the early rounds, using his youth to his advantage against the 35-year-old Gonzalez. Although Gonzalez would rally back in the late rounds, making Perez exchange, he was unable to land a fight-changing blow, as he did in January to defeat unbeaten Yankiel Rivera.

Perez improves to 15-0 (7 KOs), while Gonzalez, who recently signed with Salita Promotions, falls to 29-5-1 (14 KOs).

After the fight, Perez expressed interest in facing unified WBA titleholder Ricardo Sandoval, who holds two belts in the division, including the outright version of the title he won.

Jonathan Gonzalez vs. Abraham Perez Undercard Results

In the co-feature, Joshua Pagan won a unanimous decision over Rodolfo Bustamante. The scores were 99-91, 98-92, and 100-90.

Pagan of Grand Rapids is no stranger to the venue, as he headlined a card there in February. Pagan set the tone quickly and never let Bustamante get into rhythm, as he outworked and outclassed Bustamante. Pagan improved to 16-0 (5 KOs), while Bustamante fell to 23-2-1, (13 KOs).

Middleweight Jaquan McElroy won a six-round unanimous decision victory over Damian Munoz. The scores were 60-54 on all three judges’ scorecards. McElroy improves to 7-0 (2 KOs), while Munoz falls to 4-3 (2 KOs).

In the DAZN opening bout, recent Salita Promotions signee Caleb Tirado won a six-round unanimous decision over Osmar Rodriguez. The scores were 59-55 and 58-56 twice. Tirado is now 2-0 (1 KO), while Rodriguez falls to 6-7 (2 KOs).

The non-DAZN undercard, which aired on Wynn Records Network, saw middleweight 2020 U.S. Olympian Troy Isley, now signed to Salita Promotions, pick up a fifth-round technical knockout over Leonardo Di Stefano. Isley improves to 16-0 (6 KOs), while Di Stefano falls to 17-8 (14 KOs).

Undefeated junior welterweight Lance Smith won a four-round unanimous decision over Jovanis Rodriguez. The scores were 39-37 two times and 40-36. Smith, who trains out of Tony Harrison’s Super Bad Boxing Gym, improves to 7-0 (5 KOs),  while Rodriguez falls to 2-1-2 (1 KO).

Heavyweight Sadarius Simmons scored a second-round knockout over Walter Burns. The time of the stoppage was 1:02. Simmons was aggressive from the opening bell, landing a massive left hook to the body, followed by a brutal right cross to the chin that sent Burns crumbling to the canvas in the second. Simmons improves to (9-0, 5 KOs); Burns falls to 8-5 (6 KOs).

Women’s featherweight Shannel Butler won an eight-round unanimous decision over Mayerlin Rivas. The scores were 80-72 and 79-73 twice. Butler sees her record improve to 8-0 (3 KOs), while Rivas is now 17-7-3 (11 KOs).

Heavyweight Bryant Jennings won an eight-round unanimous decision over Robert Simms (12-7-1, 3 KOs). The scores were 80-71 twice, 79-72. Jennings, who fought Wladimir Klitschko for a world title, fought for his third time in the decade, improving to 27-4 (15 KOs), while Simms drops to 12-7-1 (3 KOs).

Lucas Ketelle

Lucas Ketelle is a boxing writer and podcaster who has appeared on various platforms throughout his career.

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