Alex Perez

Growing up on the streets of Newark, New Jersey, was never easy for Alex Perez, now an up-and-coming welterweight prospect. Often getting into fights as a youngster, his mother felt the best way to instill discipline into her son was to send him to a boxing gym to learn how to defend himself and channel his aggression in a productive manner. Instantly falling in love with the sweet science, Perez embarked on an impressive amateur career that included two New Jersey Golden Gloves titles, three Diamond Gloves titles, and one NJ State championship, culminating with a record of 56-3. However, just as he was contemplating a professional career, an altercation lead to Perez getting stabbed and potentially ending his boxing dreams.

Determined to succeed, Perez turned pro, at the age of 22, knocking out Farrakhan Cuttino inside one round, at the Robert Treat Hotel, in Newark, on December 9, 2004. Yet, strife continued for Perez, as a street brawl three weeks later resulted in his beaten adversary pulling out a gun and twice shooting the Newark-native in the chest. Having survived the injury earned Perez the nickname, the