FS1 Monday Night Fight: Michael Perez vs. Miguel Zuniga & Sadam Ali vs. Jay Krupp RBR

Round 1

Perez is jabbing sharply into Zuniga's face, recoiling it fully and then snapping it out hard in rapid succession. Left hooks to the body mixed in by Perez as they circle fluidly in the center of the ring at mid-range. Zuniga is lunging in with overhand rights and pinning his arms together in front of himself. Perez is picking him off with those jabs and leaning straight back to roll off that right hand of Zuniga. Sharp jabs pumped out steadily by Perez. Zuniga floats in front of Perez, knees bending and springing up in place, waving his arms out distractingly. Perez finds him with the jab while moving. Exchange at the bell, Zuniga getting in a right and Perez a hook.

10-9 Perez

 

Round 2

Perez is circling left and jabbing Zuniga in the face while dodging his overhands. Zuniga stays balled up tight on the way in and then lets the leather fly at the last second as he barrels into Perez. Smooth footwork by Perez, jabbing and hooking as he stays in the pocket just long enough to score and then moving again.

10-9 Perez

20-18 Perez

 

Round 3

Perez is jabbing Zuniga on the forehead and moving left to right on the outside. Body jab by Perez, keeping the left hand low as he retracts it. Zuniga is looking to catch him with counter left hooks now. Perez is getting caught but landing hard body combos while circling. Perez lands an uppercut as their arms clasp. Another clinch as Perez slaps in a right to the body. Loose tape on Perez's glove. Time in. Zuniga is walking into jabs and ties up, hitting Perez all over the body. Left hook to the body by Zuniga breaking out of the clinch. Short right hand counter by Perez stepping back as they both hook.

10-9 Perez

30-27 Perez

 

Round 4

Solid right hand by Zuniga. Perez rolls to his left and pumps the jab in from the hip. Seven punch combo on the outside by Perez, rattling off straights as he circles with Zuniga coming directly at him without altering his direction. Counter jabs and hooks by Perez at mid-range, now beginning to creep his way forward and back Zuniga up without ever getting close. Right hand clubbing across the back by Perez as Zuniga holds. Perez sweeps in a left and right uppercut on the way by, lifting his arms when done and backing out artfully to avoid Zuniga's counter.

10-9 Perez

40-36 Perez

 

He is trying to pull an Omar Figueroa and steamroll the kid.

He never got the memo that he ain't Omar Figueroa!

 

Round 5

Perez is jabbing and hooking to head and body after luring Zuniga to the ropes. Nice counter right by Perez as Zuniga slings his right arm around Perez's neck coming forward. They lean together and Zuniga plugs in short uppercuts above the belt. Perez gets up on his toes and circles to his left. The ref pauses to fix tape on Perez's glove again. Time in. Zuniga is walking through jabs and puts in a hard straight right lead, snapping Perez's head back. Perez remains calm and keeps jabbing and then working the body when they move together and tie up. Flush jab by Perez skipping backward, Zuniga reaching and grazing with a hook on the point of the chin.

10-9 Perez

50-45 Perez

 

Malignaggi is struggling to come up with a tactful and non-hypocritical way to say Perez lacks the pop for the fan-pleasing infighting he seems instinctively drawn toward and should instead rely on his excellent outside skills and hand speed keeping opponents at the end of his jab to outpoint them in safer and more boring fashion.

 

Round 6

Perez is working uppercuts from Zuniga's thigh up to his face in the clinch, his left arm trapped by Zuniga's right underarm. The ref splits them. Zuniga chases Perez into the ropes and drops a right on the top of his head. Perez dances along the ropes and ties up when Zuniga marches in and flops onto him with arms spread wide. Counter jabs by Perez as Zuniga approaches, then uppercuts in the clinch. Big overhand combos by Zuniga falling in, missing or deflecting off Perez's arms. Zuniga is falling short with his jab reaching in as Perez backs up to the ropes. Counter jabs and uppercuts by Perez. Flashy combo by Perez, five punches landing. Perez is caught by an overhand right backing out of the pocket. Big combination to head and body by Zuniga, his best moment.

10-9 Perez

60-54 Perez

 

Paulie has a deep affinity for Jersey boys.

 

He did. I don't think he quite stole the sixth, but Perez needs to smarten up for sure.