'Pinoy Pride' mega boxing event: Perez, Hernandez vow to stun foes

CEBU, Philippines – Former two-time world champion Luis Alberto "El Demoledor" Perez and welterweight hard-puncher Bladimir "Vibora" Hernandez did not want to talk about stopping their opponents but the two foreign visitors are highly optimistic they would go back to their respective countries victorious over their fancied foes from Cebu's fabled ALA Boxing Gym.

Perez (26-4, 17KOs) will go up against ALA bantamweight star AJ "Bazooka" Banal (22-1-1, 18KOs), while Hernandez (18-3, 16KOs) is set to exchange blows with Top Rank warrior Mark Jason Melligen (19-2, 13KOs) in an explosive double-header headlining the "Pinoy Pride" boxing extravaganza on October 30 at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Perez arrived in Cebu last Sunday along with his trainer Luis Reynaldo Mendoza and manager Mario Antonio Garcia Fonseca. Hernandez and his trainer Luis Reynaldo Mendoza hit the town the following day.

The Managua, Nicaragua-native Perez said coming from three consecutive defeat including against IBF bantamweight king Joseph Agbeko of South Africa doesn't matter as he firmly believes his rigid preparations will be enough to stage an upset in front of Banal's countrymen.

"I don't want to promise a knockout, but the only thing I can say is that I train hard for this fight, I've finished 100 rounds of sparring against left handed boxers and I am here to win," said Perez during a press conference yesterday at the Maya Restaurant in Banilad.

Perez's manager Fonseca made the same pitch, saying they came here in the Philippines with a mission and that is to defeat Banal which will resurrect the hope of Perez for another crack at world title.

"We came from the other side of the world and were not here for some love, we are here to win" said Fonseca. "I assure you guys that Perez will be the strongest opponent of Banal."

Likewise, Hernandez did not mention about sending Melligen to the canvass although he said it will come if opportunity presents itself.

While Melligen sparred with the undefeated welterweight star Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Hernandez also had his own fair share of experience by sparring with junior middle-weight prospect Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

"Melligen is fast. He's good, but I can say that I'm stronger and faster" said Hernandez. "I can see his weakness and that is his body."

Meanwhile, all the protagonists of "Pinoy Pride", a mega boxing presentation by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, will meet face-to-face for the first time in the final press conference this Thursday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. The official weigh-in is on Friday at the atrium of SM City-Cebu. (FREEMAN)