Hidden beneath the publicity surrounding the NBCSN-televised twin main events on Saturday, Oct 18, is an intriguing eight-round middleweight match.
It features Tyrone Brunson, of Philadelphia, and DeCarlo Perez, of Atlantic City, NJ, in what figures to be an explosive contest at the 2300 Arena at 2300 South Swanson Street.
The Brunson-Perez showdown will serve as the main preliminary contest to the doubleheader main event: Steve "USS" Cunningham, of Philadelphia, vs. Natu Visinia, Lakewood, CA, 10 rounds, heavyweights; Edner Cherry, Wauchula, FL, vs. Jerry Belmontes, Corpus Christi, TX, 10 rounds, lightweights. NBCSN will televise Cunningham-Visinia and Cherry-Belmontes on its popular Fight Night series beginning at 9pm (EST).
Brunson (above), 29, set some kind of record when he turned pro in 2005 and knocked out all of his first 19 opponents in one round. That streak ended in 2008 when Brunson was held to a six-round draw by Mexican Antonio Soriano in Canada.
Overall, Brunson is 22-2-1, 21 K0s, including a stoppage-first round, of course--in his last fight June 1over Jansel Mateo in the loser's Dominican Republic backyard.
Now managed by Mark Cipparone and trained by Sloan Harrison, Brunson appears ready to get his career jump-started again. Though he lives in Philadelphia and boxed there as an amateur, the Oct. 18 fight with Perez will mark Brunson's firs pro fight there since his debut in 2005. Instead, he has boxed in Michigan, Indiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Connecticut, Texas, Canada, Dominican Republic and New Zealand.
"Fighting in my hometown means more to me than ever before," Brunson said. "I have not fought in Philly since my pro debut at the Blue Horizon so I can't wait to give my friends, family and fans the performance of a lifetime. I never realized that I would have this extra boost that I am feeling right now just because I will have my people there rooting for me. It is really special and I have been pumped up about the fight ever since it was offered to me. I can't wait to make Philly proud of one of their own.
"I have found a team with the chemistry that I have been looking for my entire career. I recently signed with Mark Cipparone of Club 1957 Management. He has been making some noise in the Philly boxing market over the last two years. Crazy as it seems I now have a second chance because this feels like my pro debut all over again."
Perez (below), 23, appears to be coming into his own, having won six of his last seven, dropping only an eight-round split decision to Wilky Campfort, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, earlier this year in Atlantic City.
A pro since 2010, Perez is 12-3-1, 4 K0s. In his last fight Aug. 2 in Atlantic City, he earned a six-round decision over Marcus Willis, of Ft. Myers, FL.
"I've been working hard in the gym but there still are a few things to fix," Perez said. "I'll be ready for anything Brunson brings. He may try to come out fast, like he does in most of his fights, or he may want to start slower and save something for the later rounds."
Co-trainer Hassan Hameed-El: "This fight will prove what we already know-DeCarlo is one of the best middleweight prospects in the country. He should be in line for a regional title after this, certainly a spot among the Top 15 in the country. This fight reinforces what people have seen. DeCarlo has fought undefeated fighters, experienced fighters, tough fighters."
The Oct. 18 show includes a six-round all-Philadelphia lightweight contest between Victor Vasquez and Gerald Smith.
Vasquez, 31, is known as The Fighting Barber since he cuts hair when he is not boxing. A pro since 2006, Vasquez is 16-9-1, 7 K0s. He has not boxed since March 21 when he lost an unpopular eight-round decision to Osnel Charles, of Atlantic City, at Harrah's Philadelphia.
This will mark Vasquez' 10th pro fight in this building, formerly known as the New Alhambra, Arena and Asylum Arena. He is 7-2-1 there.
Smith, 29, also has been idle lately, last boxing March 29 when he dropped a four-round decision to Wellington Romero, a member of the Dominican Republic Olympic team, in Atlantic City. That was Smith's first fight in six years; he is 3-1, 1 K0.
Three four-round fights complete the seven-bout card.
Tickets are priced at $50 and $75 they are on sale at Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) or online at www.peltzboxing.com. They also can be purchased through Wanamaker's Tickets (215-568-2400). The event is sponsored by Rocco's Collision.