I recently had the opportunity to interview Alex “The Brick City Bullet” Perez, 11-0 (7 KO’s), an exciting prospect who will be fighting on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on July 16, 2010.
Chip Mitchell: Alex thanks for granting us this opportunity to interview you before your next fight. How has training gone for you?
Alex Perez: Thanks for the opportunity man. Training is going very, very good man. I’m focused. I’m 100% right now. I’ve got three more LONG weeks so I’m definitely going to be like 110 or maybe 120 percent by fight time.
Chip Mitchell: Alex you are a tall, skilled southpaw with a little pop on your punches….
Alex Perez: Definitely.
Chip Mitchell: As a result, it has been hard for you to find some fights. Does that frustrate you at all?
Alex Perez: The God’s honest truth? Yeah definitely it frustrates me, but I give all the faith to the Man upstairs and keep my hope and faith alive. He finally blessed me with the opportunity to do what I got to do, do my thing on national TV on July 16th. I’ve been waiting for a long time for this shot and you know, God finally granted me my chance. So it’s time for me to capitalize on it and do what I do.
Chip Mitchell: Your next opponent is hard hitting Vincent Arroyo who upset the celebrated prospect Jeremy Bryan. This is big step up for you mainly because you can’t get any fights. Are you ready for the challenge?
Alex Perez: I’m definitely ready. Right now I’m ready for the challenge. But come July 16th I’m going to be more than ready. More than ready.
Chip Mitchell: You’ve served as the lead sparring partner for fighters such as Miguel Cotto, Sergio Martinez, Felix Sturm, and Joel Julio. Describe the experience of going toe to toe with such big names.
Alex Perez: Aww man. The experience…. words can’t even describe the experience. It feels real good. I go in there and not just hold my own, but I handle my business with these guys. Every time they turn me into their chief sparring partner. It’s not just about being a sparring partner, it’s just about getting that experience, because God willing later down the line I’ll be facing these quality types of fighters. I know what I can do because I’ve been there at the lowest level coming up. I’ve been in there with these guys toe-to-toe, hurting these guys, outworking these guys sometimes. It’s amazing, you know what I’m saying? It’s a big confidence booster and mentally it just gets me up there on that cloud. You know what I’m saying? It feels good.
Chip Mitchell: How did you get your start in boxing?
Alex Perez: It’s a funny story. My mother said I was a little knuckle head when I was young or whatever. I used to be in school getting in little fist fights. She grabbed me up and said ‘you wanna fight? Alright I got something for you’. She threw me in the gym. At the time my stepfather, he was a coach. He had his own gym. She threw me in there with him and ever since then I fell in love with the sport and it was history ever since then.
Chip Mitchell: Describe your fighting style to readers out there who have never seen you fight.
Alex Perez: Boxer-puncher. I’m a VERY, VERY fan friendly fighter. I know my power basically. I got a good chin. God blessed me with a good chin. If I have to I will take one and give you three, four of mine. I’m a very fan friendly fighter. I like to just go in there and be busy. I don’t really like to wait too much. I’m a real busy fighter. You’ll definitely see that on July 16th.
Chip Mitchell: Who do you consider your favorite boxers, past or present?
Alex Perez: Oh okay. I got Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Alexis Arguello, and Tito Trinidad.
Chip Mitchell: Friday Night Fights gives you chance to showcase your skills in front of a national audience. Any extra nerves knowing that the world will be watching?
Alex Perez: No, none at all. None at all. It’s my time. I’m hungry. I’ve been waiting for this time. I mean I’ve been in front of big lights before. It’s all the same. In the amateurs and on top of a couple of Atlantic City shows and under the Cotto and Quintana cards, stuff like that. I’m just focused on Vincent Arroyo. I’m not that type of guy. I don’t fold under pressure.
Chip Mitchell: Okay Alex, you are from Newark, New Jersey. Da Bricks! Newark is one of the toughest cities in America. How was it like growing up in Newark? I hear you ran into a few bad situations.
Alex Perez: Basically Newark made me the man that I am today. I’ve been through a whole bunch of trials and tribulations. I don’t think I’d be so confident at what I’m doing if it wasn’t for what I’ve been through and on top of that growing up in these mean streets of Newark, New Jersey. I’ve been through a lot. I’ve been shot up. Before that I was stabbed in a fist fight, in a street fist fight. When I was young I got caught up in the streets for a little while. So I took off when I was like 15…16…17. I took off cause I got caught up in the streets for a little bit, going into my 16th year. You know, I got refocused. I put the Man upstairs first and got refocused. I got stabbed up. Shot up. I got shot up after my pro debut, AFTER I left everything alone. It was like the streets were trying to pull me back in. I didn’t let the streets get the best of me. I got caught up in a little- how do you say it- wrong place at the wrong time. I was facing 30 years. The streets were trying to pull me back in. I just kept my faith in the Man upstairs and regrouped and beat those charges and did what I had to do. Now I’m here about to do what I got to do on July 16th. Important for me but most important for my family.
Chip Mitchell: In closing, is there anything you would like to tell the millions of fans reading this transcript?
Alex Perez: Just look out for Alex Perez on July 16th. You are going to get a good show from me. After July 16th follow me, because I’m definitely a fan friendly fighter and they are gonna love me on July 16th. They are gonna love what they see.
Thanks to “The Catalyst”, Matt Yanofsky for facilitating this interview.