WBC #4 ranked heavyweight Mike Perez (21-1, 13 KOs) obliterated Darnell “The Ding-A-Ling Man” Wilson (25-19, 21 KOs) on Thursday night in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. Perez sent Wilson to the canvas with the very first punch of the fight, a crushing right hook. Wilson rose on unsteady legs only to be sent to the canvas twice more in the first round. Somehow, Wilson survived the onslaught but a perfectly landed left cross by Perez sent Wilson down for good and ended the bout at 0:59 of the second round. Perez looked as fit as he ever has been at 231 pounds and he’s now being trained by Robert Garcia.
Perez got back in the winning column after a disappointing 2014 that first saw him fight to a majority draw with the very tough, Carlos Takam, and then lose a razor thin split decision to Bryant Jennings. Whether it was the result of the switch to trainer Robert Garcia or the softer opposition, Perez looked more aggressive than ever against Wilson.
“This year is my year!” proclaimed Perez afterward. Wilson stated he believes Perez will be a future world champion. Next up for Perez is likely a WBC eliminator with Alexander Povetkin.
VICTORIAN VICTORIOUS OVER MORA
Dwain Victorian (5-3, 1KO) produced a highlight reel worthy knockout over previously undefeated Luis Mora (4-1-1, 3KO) with a vicious uppercut that nearly decapitated Mora bringing an end to the scheduled five round super lightweight bout at just 2:05 of the second round. Victorian knocked down Mora earlier in the round with an uppercut and hurt him badly. From there on, Victorian became a headhunter and continued throwing the uppercut until the knockout blow landed and knocked out Mora.
LOPEZ UPSETS LOPEZ
In a battle of the G. Lopez’, Gustavo Lopez (1-2-1) dominated previously undefeated Gabe Lopez (3-1, 3KO) to win a unanimous decision victory in a four round welterweight bout. Gabe Lopez went down in the first round from a seeming clean counter punch but referee, Jack Rees, ruled it a push. In the end it didn’t matter as judges scored the bout 40-36, 39-37 and 39-37, all in gavor of Gustavo Lopez.
HUNTER DECISIONS GIBSON
2012 U.S. Olympian, heavyweight Michael Hunter (7-0, 4KO) son of the late former contender Mike “The Bounty” Hunter, won a workmanlike eight round unanimous decision over Avery Gibson (4-2-4, 1KO). Both fighters fought at a very measured pace and seemed content to box rather than go for a knockout with the result being a wide decision victory for Hunter by unanimous scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 77-75. Hunter fights out of the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, NV.
MADIYEV STOPS MARTINEZ
Kazakh fighter and stablemate of Gennady Golovkin, Ruslan Madiyev (3-0-1KO), recorded the first knockout of his young career over Cesar Martinez (4-5-2) who entered the bout winless in his previous five contests. The difference in class was evident from the beginning of the scheduled four round lightweight bout. Martinez was given a standing eight count in the first round after a barrage of punches from Madiyev only to be stopped by Madiyev moments later at 1:42 of the first round.
MCCALLISTER KNOCKS OUT COURCHAINE
In opening bout action, a scheduled four round middleweight bout, Malcolm McCallister (2-0, 2KO) stopped Dave Couchaine (2-6, 2KO) at 1:43 of the first round. Couchaine was down on the canvas moments earlier and unable to recover before being stopped.
In what was one of the finest Fight Club OC cards in recent memory, there was a sellout crowd of 1,506, the largest ever recorded in the long and storied history of Fight Club OC. The promoter for Fight Club OC was Roy Englebrecht Promotions and the venue was The Hangar at the OC Fair & Events Center.
