Perez & Garcia back in the ring

Cuban sensations Mike ‘The Rebel’ Perez and Luis ‘The Lion’ Garcia will make their ring returns in Limerick on 15 May on the Yanjing Fight Night.

The event at the University Sports Arena is headlined by Andy Lee’s clash with former European Champion Mamadou Thiam while reigning World and European Lightweight Champion Katie Taylor features in an international amateur contest.

Cork based Cuban duo Perez and Garcia will be looking to extend their perfect records on the card as they face opponents who will be very familiar to Irish boxing fans. Super Middleweight Garcia takes on former Andy Lee opponent Alex Sipos while heavyweight Perez will face Tomas Mrazek who was last seen in an Irish ring with heavyweight prospect Tyson Fury.

Both Sipos and Mrazek put up very creditable efforts before losing on points to Lee and Fury at The O2 in Dublin last year so they represent decent tests for Perez and Garcia who will both be making their first appearances in over a year.

Despite only having had five pro fights the 22-year-old Garcia says he has no problems taking on an experienced foe in Sipos who aside from taking on Lee last year has also fought for the European title in a 30 fight pro career.

“I watched Sipos fight Andy Lee in Dublin and I have seen some of his other fights. He is strong and a good fighter but I believe I will have too much skill for him” said Garcia. “I have been out of the ring for so long and it has been frustrating for me because I love to fight and put on a show for the fans but I am just happy to have a date and an opponent to focus on now and I will be looking to take all my frustration out on Sipos in Limerick.”

Perez will also be looking to make a big impression in Limerick having fully recovered from a shoulder injury that has kept him out of the ring for over a year. “The shoulder is fine again now and I have had no problems with it,” said Perez.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring and staying busy this year. I sparred Kevin Johnson in Cork recently and had no problems with him and he was just coming off a World title with Vitali Klitschko so I believe I have the talent and the punch power to become the World heavyweight champ.”

Read the monthly boxing column of leading boxing promoter and manager Brian Peters on JOE.ie by clicking here, with more info on the Cuban-Irish Mike Tyson, Luis ‘The Lion’ Garcia.