PEREZ VS MARES FIGHT TO A DRAW

Perez vs. Mares
 
Perez (20-0-1, 14 KOs) couldn’t seem to find the defensively proficient Mares (20-0-1, 13 KOs) who landed several left hooks. A big Mares right hand ended the first round on a solid note for the challenger.
 
Mares opened the second round just like the first. Left hooks continued to land but in this round Perez also connected on a few left hooks. A barrage of body shots followed by a overhand right landed for Mares.
 
Perez pressured Mares in the third round and began opening up with more punches. Mares turned things around by pinning Perez on the ropes and fighting inside. A left uppercut found the mark and both battered each other till the bell.
 
The Perez machine began to roll in the fourth round as the Colombian slipped into another gear with combo after combo. Several left hooks by Perez landed and gave him the round.
 
Both fighters slowed in the fifth round but Perez ended the frame with some body shots while Mares went into defensive mode. It could have been the Colombian’s round.
 
Back to boxing Mares turned things around as he caught Perez with quick one-twos and an occasional right hand. Mares moved side to side and easily captured the round as Perez struggled to keep up.
 
In the seventh Perez closed the distance and found Mares with several right hands, but Mares worked combinations and landed a right hand at the bell in a very close round.
Perez scored the best punch of the eighth round with a solid right hand that oohed the crowd. Mares landed blows but not with the same intensity.
 
Mares worked the ninth round inside as Perez seemed to take the round off for a respite. Though Mares didn’t land a big shot he was the fighter applying the pressure as the Colombian cruised.
 
Once again mares became the aggressor as he worked Perez up and down in the 10th. Both traded shots with Mares landing an overhand right that connected. Both fought furiously in the last 10 seconds.
 
Mares used his defense to offset Perez’s attack and then went to the body. Both fighters are visibly slowing down in the 11th round. Perez worked his left jab effectively jamming it on Mares. He was winning the round until a Mares right hand connected big time twice in the last seconds. 
 
The last round saw both looking to land the big punch. It didn’t come until the last 15 seconds when Mares landed two big blows that seemed to rock Perez. The Colombian kept his cool and fired back until the final bell.
 
Judge Marty Denkin had it 115-113 for Mares and judges Gwen Adair and Eugenia Williams had it 114-114 for a majority draw.
 
"I won this fight. It was not a draw. Im willing to fight a rematch but it’s up to my promoter," said Mares. "He’s a good fighter but he never hurt me."
 
Mares remains undefeated but does not win the title. It remains with Perez.
 
"I’m really sad I thought I won the fight. I fight for the crowd and for the people. And that crowd saw me won but the judges didn’t I want the rematch," said Mares. "I showed him a high caliber fighter tonight. In the last round I thought I was going to KO him but I didn’t."