Yonnhy Pérez


Yonnhy Pérez is a Colombian former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2011. He held the IBF bantamweight title from 2009 to 2010, reaching a peak ranking of number three at bantamweight by The Ring magazine in December 2010.

Professional career

Although born in Colombia, Pérez has fought all but one of his professional fights in the United States. He made his debut on 30 July 2005 in Tucson, Arizona at the age of 26. Pérez made a winning start to his career, knocking out Steve Lozoya in the first round.
Pérez faced his biggest challenge on 29 May 2009, when he travelled to Johannesburg, South Africa to fight Silence Mabuza in an IBF Bantamweight title eliminator. Mabuza, a native of Johannesburg, was a former world champion and had only lost to the renowned Mexican Rafael Marquez. Despite trailing on all three scorecards, Pérez was able to knock Mabuza out in the final round.

IBF bantamweight champion

In his first world title fight Pérez successfully challenged the IBF champion, Joseph Agbeko from Ghana. Agbeko, who in his previous fight defeated Vic Darchinyan, suffered a knockdown in the tenth round en route to losing his title to Pérez via a unanimous decision.
On 22 May 2010, Pérez, defending his IBF title for the first time, fought to a majority draw against the unbeaten Mexican Abner Mares. One judge scored the bout 115–113 in favor of Mares while the other two scored it 114–114 even, resulting in Pérez retaining his title. After the fight both boxers claimed that the decision should have gone their way, and both expressed interest in a rematch.

Perez vs. Agbeko II

Rather than an immediate rematch with Mares, Pérez faced Agbeko for a second time in the first round of Showtime's bantamweight tournament, while Mares faced Darchinyan on 11 December. Pérez went on to lose a unanimous decision to Agbeko in the match, and a technical decision to Darchinyan on 23 April 2011. In March 2012, having not fought since the losses to Agbeko and Darchinyan, Pérez announced his retirement from boxing, citing a lack of motivation to continue in the sport.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
23Loss20–2–1 Vic Darchinyan5, 1:0723 Apr 2011 Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles, California, U.S.For vacant IBO bantamweight title;
Unanimous TD after Pérez was cut from an accidental head clash
22Loss20–1–1 Joseph AgbekoUD1211 Dec 2010 Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.Lost IBF bantamweight title
21Draw20–0–1 Abner Mares1222 May 2010 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained IBF bantamweight title
20Win20–0 Joseph AgbekoUD1231 Oct 2009 Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won IBF bantamweight title
19Win19–0 Silence MabuzaTKO12, 1:0629 May 2009 Springs Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
18Win18–0 David MartinezTKO6, 2:415 Sep 2008 Star of the Desert Arena, Primm, Nevada, U.S.
17Win17–0 Oscar AndradeUD1027 Jun 2008 DoubleTree, Ontario, California, U.S.Won vacant NABF bantamweight title
16Win16–0 Manuel SarabiaUD62 May 2008 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.
15Win15–0 Alex BecerraKO4, 0:391 Mar 2008 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.
14Win14–0 Alexander FedorovTKO4, 0:445 Oct 2007 Omega Products International, Corona, California, U.S.
13Win13–0 Antonio Maria Cochero DiazRTD2, 3:007 Sep 2007 Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S.
12Win12–0 José LaureanoTKO3, 0:1928 Jul 2007 Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
11Win11–0 Samuel LopezKO1, 2:0025 May 2007 DoubleTree, Ontario, California, U.S.Won vacant WBC Continental Americas bantamweight title
10Win10–0 Oscar AndradeUD824 Mar 2007 DoubleTree, Ontario, California, U.S.
9Win9–0 Luis AgostoTKO2, 1:0823 Feb 2007 DoubleTree, Ontario, California, U.S.
8Win8–0 Arturo BracamontesKO620 Nov 2006 DoubleTree, Ontario, California, U.S.
7Win7–0 Arturo BracamontesUD616 Oct 2006 DoubleTree, Ontario, California, U.S.
6Win6–0 Larry OlveraTKO6, 2:0915 Sep 2006 Omega Products International, Corona, California, U.S.
5Win5–0 Israel NavarreteKO2 14 Jul 2006 Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, U.S.
4Win4–0 Daniel Quevedo616 Jun 2006 Radisson Hotel, Sacramento, California, U.S.
3Win3–0 Edison Morillo1, 3:0019 May 2006 Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, U.S.
2Win2–0 Leshaun BlairTKO4, 2:091 Sep 2005 Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona
1Win1–0 Steve Lozoya1, 1:5230 Jul 2005 Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.