Colombian Yonnhy Perez continually beat Africa's Joseph Agbeko to the punch with telling blows during toe-to-toe exchanges, and benefited from a ruled 10th-round knockdown that was, in fact, set up by an accidental head-butt on the way to Saturday night's 12-round, unanimous decision upset.Perez earned the IBF's bantamweight title at the Treasure Island in Las Vegas.
The 118-pound Perez won 116-111 on the card of Jerry Roth, and 117-110 on those of Glenn Trowbridge and Barry Druxman. FanHouse scored the fight for Perez, 116-111.
"It was the right decision. Joseph Agbeko is a great fighter, but I felt that I was ahead by the points that the judges gave me," said Perez, who was cut over both eyes from apparent head-butts from Agbeko.
"I definitely felt the head-butts, but my corner kept telling me to be calm, be calm, just keep fighting," said the 30-year-old Perez , who improved to 20-0 with 14 knockouts, dropping Agbeko to 27-2, with 22 KOs, in the latter's third defense.
It was the second consecutive victory over a major opponent by Perez, who knocked out South African, Silence Mabuza, before the latter's home crowd in Johannesburg in May.
In that win, Perez overcame a huge deficit on the judges' cards to flatten his rival with 66 seconds left in the 12th round.
Agbeko had vowed that he would knock out Perez., a factor that motivated the challenger.
"No, it didn't bother me, it just gave me more strength to fight Agbeko. I just thank Showtime for the fight and another opportunity," said Perez, who has a wife and two children living in Colombia.
"I dedicate the fight to Santa Fe Springs [where he lives and trains]," said Perez. "Whenever [Agbeko] wants a rematch, I'm here for him."
The 29-year-old Agbeko was winning the 10th round before the head-butt, which resulted in his nose colliding with Perez's forehead.
Agbeko, who had a six-bout winning streak, then turned his back on Perez, who continued to fire away.
As Agbeko turned away, Perez punched him three times before the ex-champion went to the canvas on his knees.
It was the first time Agbeko had been down in his career.
Referee Robert Byrd ruled that Agbeko was floored by a punch, and began to count as Agbeko pleaded his case, without reward.
"I believe that I won this fight. I'm the champion. I fought as the champion. During that round, I had been head-butted, but the referee started to count it as a knockdown," said Agbeko, whose own forward movement banged his nose against Perez's forehead.
"I think that I won this fight," said Agbeko. "I don't think that the decision was fair. I want a rematch."
Agbeko was coming off of July's unanimous decision over Armenian-born southpaw Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan of Austrailia, a hard-punching fighter who rose from 115 pounds where he held the WBC, WBA and IBF super flyweight crowns.
Round-by-Round Blog
Agbeko enters the ring in a King Kong mask, led in chains by a beautiful blond woman.Round 1: Perez engaged Agbeko, throwing the first six punches of the fight. But Agbeko answered, as they swapped exchanges from the outset. A four-punch combination backed up Perez, who continued to receive crisp shots to the head and body. Perez answered, however, with two left hooks. But Agbeko's hard left continually backed him up. Agbeko continued to pressure, but Perez shook Agbeko with two rights, followed by a left hook at the bell. Agbeko's round, 10-9.
Round 2: Agbeko continued to lead in and throw, exposing his head. Perez gave as good as he took, landing what appeared to be the harder blows. A left hook, followed by a right backed up Agbeko, yet again. Agbeko continued to move forward, but was shaken by a right. A three-punch combination stood up Agbeko, but Perez took a hard right hand. Another right cross, as well as a left hook caught Agbeko, who remained busier. Perez gave ground, but not intensity, even as he took a straight right hand. Perez's round, 10-9.
Round 3: Perez gives ground, and Agbeko takes advantage, landing a six-punch combination. The fighters continue to trade, as Agbeko presses forward. Agbeko's left jab is hard, but he takes a long right from Perez . Perez lands a one-two but takes a hard right from Agbeko. Agbeko goes to the body, but takes another hard head-swiveling left. Perez's overhand right nails Agbeko on the left side of his jaw. Perez finishes strong with a five-punch series. Perez's round, 10-9.
Round 4: Two left hands from Agbeko start the round. Perez gains confidence and begins to stand his ground more. Perez nails Agbeko with a right, and then a left. Agbeko begins to lunge and bend forward, a dangerous style against the hard-punching challenger. A combination to the head and body shakes Agbeko, as does a left and right to the champion's head. Agbeko goes to the body and continues to pressure. Perez then goes to the body as well, although he takes two shots to the head, and another to the body from Agbeko before the bell. Perez's round, 10-9.
Round 5: Perez continues to land the more telling blows, although Agbeko is undeterred and answers back. Agbeko's jab backs up Perez, and he follows with a four-punch combination. Agbeko's body attack is effective, even as referee Robert Byrd warns him to keep his punches up. Agbeko begins to employ more upper-body movement, an answer to Perez's steady blows. Agbeko begins to mix digs to the body and goes to the head. Agbeko's round, 10-9.
Round 6: Agbeko starts by jabbing, but soon goes toe-to-toe again. Perez lands a left and a right cross early, and lands respective four- and three-punch combinations. Agbeko's two jabs are followed by an overhand right before he goes downstairs to the body. A jab and later and overhand right land cleanly by Perez. Perez begins to come forward and land consistently over about a 10-second span, but then is backed up by a hard right from Agbeko. A double right, followed by a jab from Agbeko ends the round. Perez's round, 10-9.
Round 7: An accidental head-butt by Agbeko caused a cut over Perez's left eye in the sixth round. Agbeko is energized, firing relentlessly as he comes forward behind an assault of solid blows. A right hand jars Perez, as do a left and a follow-up right. Agbeko takes two jabs, but still moves forward. Perez lands two more lefts. But Agbeko up-jabs twice to regain control. Agbeko digs to the body. Agbeko's round, 10-9.
Round 8: Agbeko continues to jab and use his upper-body movement, a slight adjustment that allows him to get off first. But then, Perez moves forward and forces Agbeko backward with hard lefts and rights. Agbeko begins to leap in, but misses before settling in behind his jab. Agbeko lands two big rights, but takes a big right from Perez. Agbeko has Perez on the ropes, but they trade equally. Each fighter has lost some steam as he goes to his corner. Perez's round, 10-9.
Round 9: Agbeko starts out busier, going to the head and jabbing to the body. Perez backs up Agbeko with a big left-right-left. Agbeko pushes his jab into Perez's face, and follows with a jab. Agbeko drops a right and then a left, and then goes to Perez's body. Agbeko lands two jabs, then a left hook inside. The fighters trade left hooks, and, over the final seconds, Agbeko lands more cleanly, but Perez is cut over both eyes along the forehead as the round ends. Agbeko's round, 10-9.
Round 10: Agbeko steps inside and lands a combination that punctuates with two rights, and then a jab. Agbeko is forcing the action, going to the body, jabbing to the head and doubling up on his left hand. Agbeko's punches are beginning to go right up the middle, but Perez sneaks in two right hands. Agbeko continues to bring the action to Perez, with a jab, two rights to the head. Agbeko goes down, turns away, then goes down, and complains of being head-butted as Robert Byrd rules a knockdown. Agbeko rises, but loses the round and returns to the corner with a bloody nose. Perez's round, 10-8.
Round 11: Perez is encouraged, and comes forward throwing bombs. He continues to be the more accurate puncher for the first minute and a half. Agbeko comes forward with his jab, but takes two hard lefts. Perez takes a left and a right, but continues to be busier. Perez begins to land and dance away, even as Agbeko follows and lands crisp lefts and rights. Perez's round, 10-9
Round 12: Agbeko pounds home a right but Perez comes back with three punches. Agbeko lands faster, but Perez counters effectively. A short left by Agbeko is countered by two more inside from Perez. Agbeko loads up with his right hand, but Perez dances away. Perez sneaks in a left and maintains some distance. Agbeko misses with two rights. Perez lands a right, but takes a left and a right before the bell. Perez's round, 10-9.
Jerry Roth had it 116-111, Glenn Trowbridge and Barry Druxman had it 117-110, all for Perez by unanimous decision.
FanHouse scores the fight for Perez, 116-111.
