Perez: Melindo will have a hard time against me

CEBU, Philippines - Jean Piero Perez (19-4, 14KOs) knows that he will be facing one of the toughest flyweight boxers of the Philippines in Milan Melindo (27-0, 11KOs), but the former world champion from Venezuela said he is not intimidated with the ALA Boxing Gym star.

Perez is scheduled to challenge Melindo for the WBO International flyweight championship in the main event of 'Pinoy Pride XVI: Venezuelan Invasion' on September 22 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

In a press conference yesterday at Baseline Restaurant, the WBA ranked No.4 Perez said he believes that Melindo has great technical skills and speed even though he hasn’t seen any tape of Melindo’s fights.

But he also thinks that he is 100 percent eady to score an upset against the 24-year-old ring gladiator from Cagayan de Oro City.

“I don’t usually watch the fight of my opponents in tapes but I heard he (Melindo) is fast and a very good technical boxer,” said Perez. “Melindo hasn’t lost a fight but I can say that every fight is different and a fight against me will be something hard for him.”

Perez’s Panamian trainer Francisco Arroyo is also optimistic on their chances of pulling off a major stunner in Cebu boxing scene.

“I don’t want to predict the outcome, but I can say that my boxer has power and a knockout will come if there will be a chance,” said Arroyo, also the chief strategist of Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion who is best remembered by the Cebuanos for dealing ALA Stable star AJ "Bazooka" Banal his first and only defeat, so far, via a devastating 10th round stoppage to snatch the interim WBA flyweight belt four years ago at the Cebu Coliseum.

“Me and Perez are used to fighting abroad and I always make sure that we came to win even at the territory of out opponents," he added.

Perez scored an eight round knockout against Colombian Michael Arango in his previous match last April 26 in Panama. He snatched the interim WBA flyweight title last year with a unanimous decision victory over Mexican Jesus Jimenez in Mexico City. (FREEMAN)