Raul Perez

[Autobarn]

The late '80s saw an explosion of talent at bantamweight, and in a brilliant 1988 Perez beat two of the most talented and exciting fighters, Wilfredo Vazquez and Miguel Lora.

He made 7 defenses and seemed on his way to an outstanding career, but was surprisingly beaten by the tricky Greg Richardson.

What happened with Perez? Had the gruelling and bloody war with Lucio Lopez of Argentina taken too much out of him? That was a great fight. A strange one with Perez, so tall for the weight, trading with Lopez, a pretty short guy even for bantamweight.

Did he lose discipline?

He went on to win a super bantamweight crown but was then blasted out by old foe Vazquez, at his absolutely most ferocious.

[dagosd2000]

The late '80s saw an explosion of talent at bantamweight, and in a brilliant 1988 Perez beat two of the most talented and exciting fighters, Wilfredo Vazquez and Miguel Lora.

He made 7 defenses and seemed on his way to an outstanding career, but was surprisingly beaten by the tricky Greg Richardson.

What happened with Perez? Had the gruelling and bloody war with Lucio Lopez of Argentina taken too much out of him? That was a great fight. A strange one with Perez, so tall for the weight, trading with Lopez, a pretty short guy even for bantamweight.

Did he lose discipline?

He went on to win a super bantamweight crown but was then blasted out by old foe Vazquez, at his absolutely most ferocious.

Raul Jibaro Perez lives in Tijuana with his new wife and family.I used to see him train in Tijuana with his ex father in law /trainer Romulo Quirate.Raul's failed marriage with his first wife and subsequent failure to train led to his demise in the ring. Today,Quirarte trains Jibaro's son(from the marriage to his daughter).His profession is a dentist. Jibaro is still involved training a fighter or two in Tijuana.Says he's living the clean and good life.Everyone on all sides seems happy.If you look back a page or two on the Classic West Coast Boxing thread,you'll see an article I wrote about the old CREA Gym where Quirarte still works with fighters and I mention Jibaro Perez as well. Hope that helps.

[Autobarn]

Thanks for the information. He was a really sharp boxer in his prime.

I'm really curious about his first fight with Vazquez. Was it an easy win for Perez? Was it close and competitive? Was it a Mexico v Puerto Rico war?

[dagosd2000]

Thanks for the information. He was a really sharp boxer in his prime.

I'm really curious about his first fight with Vazquez. Was it an easy win for Perez? Was it close and competitive? Was it a Mexico v Puerto Rico war?

It was a clear cut victory for Perez.Perez looked very strong and sharp.Perez hadn't fought anyone of any real prominence prior to fighting Vasquez. I remember watching the fight with his friends in Tijuana. Perez was at his peak at that time. His next fight he beat Happy Lora.Yes,it was always a Mexico vs.a Puerto Rican thing or a Mexico vs. a Colombian thing. But shortly after winning the bantam title Perez began keeping company with people who led him astray. His problems with his manager Quirarte and his daughter(Jibaro's wife) got out of control. By the time he lost to Greg Richardson,we knew it was only a matter of time that he would come apart. Vasquez crushed him for the super bantam title. Perez,along with Dinamita Estrada,were very popular in Tijuana. They were local kids and the Tijuaneros were very enthusiastic about them.However the big star power belonged to Julio Cesar Chavez on the national level.

[Autobarn]

So Vazquez wasn't ever in the first fight?

By the way, I was watching Perez v Lucio Lopez. Rare fight in which both are covered in blood. All over their faces, their backs. It also has some of the best action I've ever seen in a bantamweight fight. Tremendous infighting which is rare when one fighter is so tall and the other so short.

[Bricks]

if im correct his name was pronounced ....

HOWW-OUUL PERAAAY?

[Esquire]

Jibaro Perez is worthy of the Hall of Fame in my opinion.

He was a remarkably good inside fighter given his height and reach.

At his best he was awfully hard to beat. He had a heck of a run at bantam and super bantam.

There isn't a drumbeat for his enshrinement, but I think he'll get in someday.

[Bricks]

wtf is a jibaro?

[Autobarn]

Jibaro Perez is worthy of the Hall of Fame in my opinion.

He was a remarkably good inside fighter given his height and reach.

At his best he was awfully hard to beat. He had a heck of a run at bantam and super bantam.

There isn't a drumbeat for his enshrinement, but I think he'll get in someday.

For a time he looked an elite fighter. Sensational year beating Vazquez and Lora back to back, and the war with Lucio Lopez is surely on of the greatest bantamweight fights of all time for sustained action.

Until it went wrong. Similar kind of career to Simon Brown, Donald Curry & Lora himself, kind of had half a great career.

[Esquire]

wtf is a jibaro?

"Jibaro" was what he was called. I think it means "mountain man" or the spanish version of "hillbilly".

If you watch his fights the announcers simply referred to his as Jibaro.

It was a compliment, not a slight.

[enrique]

Jibaro means wild or untamed. Like a perro jibaro (wild dog) or hombre jibaro (a wild, untamed man)