BIOGRAPHY

YONNHY (pr. YA-nee) "El Colombiano" (The Colombian) PEREZ (19-0, 14 KOs)

• Current IBF World bantamweight champion

• Former North American Boxing Federation (NABF) bantamweight champion

At the age of 30, Yonnhy Perez is a four-year pro. Following a long amateur career and having served in the military, Perez made his pro debut at age 26. An undefeated bantamweight, Perez defeated Joseph Agbeko for the IBF bantamweight world championship on October 31st at Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Perez’ trainer Danny Zamora explained that Perez’ manager, Ismael Mares, saw the fighter take on Mar’es son, Abner Mares, at the Pan American Games and the pair became friends.

"Perez beat Mares one time in the amateurs at a tournament in Venezuela, but Mares beat him in the Pan American Games," Zamora said. "That is how they became friends. Abner Mares (2004 Mexican Olympian) went to Mexico City to train with Nacho Beristain, but before that, he lived about 10 minutes away from Perez. "They’re still good friends.

Since Perez has so much experience in the ring, he and his camp do not concentrate much of their time on sparring.

"Most fighters spar a lot to get that ring experience, but Perez does not," Zamora said. "He just keeps himself in great shape, and he is so calm in the ring.

As Perez can fight either style, he prefers not to watch a lot of film of his upcoming opponents.

"Yonnhy is the type that once he gets into the ring, he decides what he is going to do," Zamora said.

Perez said that he can box or trade punches depending on the weaknesses he sees in a fighter.

"I am really positive," Perez said. "I always train hard and always ready. I came to this country for one reason: to fight. Whatever comes toward me, I’m going to take. I’ll challenge anybody. I’m supporting my family back home, so I know what I need to do and why I’m doing it."

Fight by Fight

2009 – WON IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – On 10-31-09, Perez took on highly regarded world champion Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko of Ghana and dropped him once in the 10th round en route to a stirring 12 round unanimous decision victory that earned Perez the IBF world title. The fight will be considered as one of the best of 2010. Scores for the unbeaten Perez were 117-110 twice, and 116-111.

WON IBF BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR - On 5-29-09, Perez traveled to Springs Indoor Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa to take on hometown-favorite and former world title challenger Silence Mabuza (22-2, 18 KOs). Perez stopped Mabuza at 1:06 of the 12th and final round to earn a shot at the IBF world title.

2008 – On 9-5-08 in Primm, Nevada, Perez stopped David Martinez (18-4-1) at 2:41 of the sixth round.

WON VACANT NABF BANTAMWEGHT TITLE - On 6-27-08 in Ontario, Calif., Perez won a 10-round unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91 and 98-92) in a rematch against Oscar Andrade.

On 5-2-08 in Carson, Calif., Perez recorded a six-round unanimous decision (60-54 twice and 59-55) over Manuel Sarabia.

On 3-1-08 in Carson, Perez knocked out Alejandro Becerra (19-5 going in). The fight was on the undercard of the Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez III main event at the Home Depot Center; After Perez scored a knockdown in the fourth round, Becerra was counted out at 0:39.

2007 – On 10-5-07 in Corona, Calif., Perez TKO’d Alexander Fedorov (17-4-1 going in). The fight headlined at Omega Products International. Perez staggered Fedorov badly with a right hand in the fourth round. The ropes held up Fedorov, and the referee stopped the fight without a count at 0:44.

"When I would hit Fedorov, it looked as though he was hurt," Perez said. "I was frustrated because he would move a lot. I changed my fight plan a bit. My trainer told me to stop chasing Fedorov around the ring. I cut off the ring and boxed more."

On 9-7-07 in Santa Ynez, Calif., Perez TKO’d Antonio Cochero. The fight was on the undercard of the Antonio DeMarco-Nick Casal main event at Chumash Casino Resort. Perez quickly overpowered Cochero and stopped him at 3:00 of the second round.

On 7-28-07 in Tacoma, Wash., Perez TKO’d Jose Laureano. The fight was on the undercard of the Vernon Forrest-Carlos Baldomir main event at the Emerald Queen Casino. Perez floored his opponent with an uppercut to the body in the opening round, and then scored another knockdown with a right hand to the chin in the second. Ringsiders were calling for the fight to be stopped after the round, but Laureano came out in the third. Perez then rocked him with a series of punches, and the referee stopped the fight at 0:19.

On 5-25-07 in Ontario, Calif., Perez knocked out Samuel Lopez (17-4-1 going in). The fight headlined at the Marriott Hotel and drew a capacity crowd. Perez scored a knockdown with a right hand that put Lopez on the seat of his pants in the first round, and he was counted out at 2:00.

"When I landed the counter right hand and Lopez fell, I knew he was not going to get up," Perez said.

On 3-24-07 in Orange, Calif., Perez tallied an eight-round unanimous decision (80-72 and 78-74 twice) over former contender Andrade.

On 2-23-07 in Ontario, Perez TKO’d Luis Agosto at 1:08 of the second round.

2006 – On 11-20-06 in Ontario, Perez knocked out Arturo Bracamontes in the sixth round.

On 10-16-06 in Ontario, Perez earned a six-round unanimous decision (60-53 three times) over Bracamontes. Perez scored a knockdown with a left-right combination in the first round. Bracamontes got up and continued to fight hard, but Perez dominated and shut him out on the scorecards.

On 9-15-06 in Corona, Reyes knocked out Larry Olvera at 2:09 of the sixth round.

On 7-14-06 in Montebello, Calif., Reyes knocked out Israel Navarette in the second round.

On 6-16-06 in Sacramento, Calif., Reyes won a six-round decision over Daniel Quevedo.

On 5-19-06 in Montebello, Reyes TKO’d Edison Morillo (12-3-2 going in). Morillo complained of a hand injury and did not continue after the opening round.

2005 - On 9-1-05 in Tucson, Ariz., Reyes knocked out LeShaun Blair at 2:09 of the fourth round.

Reyes made his pro debut at age 26 on 7-30-05 in Tucson and TKO’d Steve Lozoya (also making his pro debut) at 1:52 of the first round.

AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Born in Cartagena, Colombia, Perez has two brothers and one sister. His dad is a carriage driver in colonial Cartagena and his mom is a homemaker.

Perez started boxing when he was eight years old when his dad took him to the gym for the first time.

"I got into boxing because I just wanted to do something in sports," Perez said. "My dad never boxed, but I had an uncle that used to fight as an amateur. After that, I realized where I could go with it, like representing my country, going to tournaments. I could get out of my town."

During his amateur career, Perez compiled a 230-17 record, was a seven-time national champion in Colombia, and was a member of the Colombian national amateur team.

Perez said that he turned pro in his mid 20s due to his military service as an infantry sergeant.

"I joined the military when I was 17 years old, and I was in until I was 26," Perez explained.

Perez is married with two sons. Nine-year-old Yonnhy Jr. and his two-year-old brother Mateo live in Colombia with their mother, Linette Perez.

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS: 2003 Pan American Games, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 119 pounds – BRONZE MEDALIST: In his first fight on 8-8-03, Perez won a 19-9 decision over Carlos Guevara of Nicaragua. In the quarterfinals on 8-10-03, Perez won a 27-26 decision over Cleber Santos of Brazil. In the semi-finals on 8-12-03, Perez lost a 26-19 decision to Abner Mares of Mexico.

1998 Central American Games, Maracaibo, Venezuela, 112 pounds – SILVER MEDALIST: In the quarter-finals on 8-17-98, Perez stopped Conrad Scott of Jamaica in the first round. In the semi-finals on 8-20-98, Perez stopped Eudis Mendez of the Dominican Republic in the second round. In the finals on 8-22-98, Perez dropped a 15-7 decision to Manuel Mantilla of Cuba.

STRENGTHS: Has impressive skills, movement and punching power...Is versatile in the ring...Had a very strong amateur background.

WEAKNESSES: Slow to start.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Four years, four months...20 fights...99 total rounds

AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: 4.95 rounds

KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: 70 percent

DISTANCE FIGHTS: 12 rounds – one (2-0)…10 rounds – one (1-0)...Eight rounds – one (1-0)… Six rounds – three (3-0)

RECORD

PHOTOS

VIDEOS

Perez vs Mabuza Highlights

Yonnhy Perez traveled to South Africa to face hometown hero Silence "African Spice" Mabuza for an IBF Bantamweight eliminatior on May 29, 2009. Down in all three judges cards, Perez stunned Mabuza to obtain a huge TKO victory.

Yonnhy "El Colombiano" Perez

Yonnhy Perez Knocks Out Samuel Lopez to capture NABF Bantamweight belt (May 2007, Ontario, CA)