Taking just 30 seconds to dispatch Argentinian veteran Pablo Matias Magrini, the Cork-based Cuban took his record to 23-3-1 following on from losing his WBC title clash against the Latvian last year.
Perez is on course for another championship chance in the future but will need to step up his opposition in preparation to meet the best in the division once again.
‘The Rebel’ was handed a rating of eleven in the new World Boxing Council list released last week and could be in line for a shot at the WBSS winner or any subsequently vacated belts later in the year.
Elsewhere in El Paso – Texas, former world super-welterweight champion Austin Trout out-pointed Juan De Angel over eight rounds to go some way to erasing the memory of losing back-to-back IBF title shots. Losses to Jarret Hurd and Jermall Charlo were tough to take for the dogged American, who has decided against a move up to the middleweight division.
At the age of 32, there should still be at least one more opportunity in the tank for Trout, although ‘No Doubt’ has been involved in some lengthy wars of late and is in the midst of one of the most competitive weight class out there.
