[Crimson]

Friday, July 10th, 1992
Hiram Bithorn Stadium; San Juan, Puerto Rico
Wilfredo Vazquez 32-6-3 (27) WBA
vs.
Raul Perez 52-3-2 (33) Mexico
- This fight would be the third meeting between the two fighters. In 1988 Raul Perez won a unanimous 10 round decision in Inglewood, CA. The rematch was fought earlier this year (March 1992)in Mexico, and in a minor upset Vasquez took Perez’ WBA title with a TKO in the third.
- Vazquez was a slight 3-2 betting favorite to win this rubber match in front of his home country fans.
- Raul Perez had not looked impressive in his previous outing, when he stopped Daniel Zaragoza due to a cut, in a fight that Perez had been losing.
- Physically Vazquez and Perez both appeared to be in shape. However, Vazquez’ trainers had a difficult time keeping him in at night. This was to be Vazquez first world title fight fought in Puerto Rico and there was some concern that perhaps he had to many friends at home wanting to spend time with him, and it may have impacted his training.
- All 18,264 seats were sold at San Juan’s Hiram BIthorn Stadium.
- Vasquez did not look sharp early. At the end of 4 rounds he was already breathing heavy and on the scorecard of Ringside Expert Richard Plunkett was down 39 to 37. Punches landed numbers favored Perez 95 to 89.
- Vazquez became excessively aggressive in round 5 and soon found himself taking some hellacious shots from the long armed “Jibaro”. With Vazquez taking some punishment along the ropes, but still defending himself the referee stopped the fight and heard a deafening cascade of boos in reply.
Raul Perez TKO5 Wilfredo Vazquez (wins WBA title)

In September Raul Perez will now fight Jesse Benavides in a WBA/WBO unification battle. While Tracy Harris Patterson and Jemal Hinton will rumble in a WBC/IBF unification battle. The winners will then face off for all the marbles in December of 1992.

(Attached is the 3-27-92 fight between Wilfredo Vazquez and Raul Perez, won by Vazquez.)
YouTube - Wilfredo Vazquez Vs. Raul "Jibaro" Perez (2) - (TKO-3) - 03-27-1992

Wilfredo Vazquez vs. Prince Naseem Hamed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPJwb...om=PL&index=23