Last August, unbeaten flyweight Abraham Perez was a week away from his Top Rank TV debut and a fight with crosstown rival Matthew Griego. Perez was doing water breathing exercises in his family’s pool when he lost consciousness. His mother, Cynthia, found Perez unresponsive and began CPR until the ambulance got there. Perez was taken to the hospital, where he was in a coma for 4 days. Once he regained consciousness, he was weak, his muscles lost strength.
Boxing was the last thing on his mind.
Fast forward, Perez, after going through rehab to gain his strength back and having done all the necessary testing, EKG, and CT scans, was given the green light to resume his boxing career. Perez will return April 19th, in Albuquerque, NM, where he will face Jose Rodriquez Montemayor. Perez 10-0, is ready to go full steam ahead now that he has a clean bill of health.
“I’m ready to go and excited to get back in the Ring after my accident,” stated Perez. ” I want to fight the best out there and with this fight coming up, once I get past it is time to fight all the big names to reach my goals in boxing.”
Is the accident still on his mind? Maybe a little PTSD from the pool, but boxing was 2nd nature to get back in there. He enjoys training and the sport that has been good for him.
“It wasn’t hard to get back in the ring, I got a great bill of health and I felt great sparring and training. The hardest part was regaining my strength, it was odd to feel weak and having to start walking all over again.”
Perez is ready to resume his career and get back on the path that temporarily halted his ascent to the world major titles. Perez has captured the IBA world title, albeit a minor world title. He is ready to make an impression with major promoters and hopefully propel him to a major world title.
“I’m ready to go to the next level after this fight, I want to fight the best out there and I will go wherever I need to go to fight them. I believe in myself and talents, if you have the goods it doesn’t matter who or where you fight. It Is the reason I continue in the sport to test myself and ability to be the best I can.”
“Hammer”, his nickname, has heard some locals on social media question him and his accident, yet that doesn’t hold him back.
“We have heard it all, I wasn’t injured, I was nervous about the Griego fight. It doesn’t bother me at all. I know what I went through and for anyone to question the severity of my accident, that is their opinion. I fear no one and I just move and not pay much to the ones who wish bad on me or my family.” Say’s Perez
Perez is past the Griego fight. It’s something he doesn’t think about anymore. It’s something he only wanted for the fans, not much more.
“It’s a fight that I was doing for the fans and to be seen on ESPN, I’ve moved on from that happening, it really doesn’t do anything for me at this point career wise.”
On his plans after Montemayor, Perez is looking to fight two more times out of town, then he wants a ranked fighter to help him move up the ladder.
“We look to make a big splash this year and be more active with the time I missed last year. I want to call out the bigger names out there, I’m respectful and will never be that type of fighter who will say anything bad about anyone to get a fight. I just want to fight the best out there.”
Perez stepping into the ring is already simple for him; he’s already conquered the most important thing in life,
Life!
