Perez Defeats Agbeko, Perez remains undefeated

The challenger Yonnhy Perez captured the International Boxing Federation Bantamweight Title from the champion Agbeko by a 12-round unanimous decision.

Earlier, Joseph Agbeko had predicted a knockout on the fight. Agbeko did not anticipate Perez to throw lots of punches and Perez was able to land clean punches that put pressure to Agbeko and had him moving back in the first round.

This is a tremendous match-up. They met in the ring and just slug it out. Both fighters were able to exchange heavy blows in the ring. Perez knocked down Agbeko in the 10th round.

One issue on this fight is the controversial head butt. So let’s talk about that head butt. The referee [Robert Byrd] missed the head butt because he did not see it on his viewpoint. When the head butt occurred, Agbeko turned away because of pain and the referee did not stop the action, so Perez hit Agbeko with body shots that sent him to the canvas.

Agbeko was very disappointed on what had happened. Not only him but his fans as well. In fact, there were many accidental head butts occurred during the fight.

Agbeko said,”He head butted me in round 10. I don’t think that was fair. The (television) replay clearly shows what happened. I was fighting well to that point. I thought I was winning the fight.”

“Perez seemed energized after being awarded the knockdown and I was never the same after his head hit mine. We will never know what would have happened had there not been a head butt.’’

Meanwhile, Perez’s victory is a big thing. Having the IBO Bantamweight Title is really a big thing.

“All the hard work and preparation paid off. This is a dream come true. (On the knockdown) I don’t think he was in good shape. I think he went down to catch his breath. I felt I was more consistent, more active and I pressed the fight throughout.”

Yonnhy Perez remains undefeated with a record of 20-0-(14).