Luciano Perez (12-1, 11 ko’s) had too much firepower for Grover Wiley (27-6-1) Friday night in the co-main event at the RiverCentre in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The fight got off to a slow, cautious start as both men tried to get a feel for what the other would bring. Wiley and Perez both admitted prior to the fight of knowing little about their opponent.

The careful pace changed dramatically midway through the first when Perez followed three consecutive jabs with a hard right hand to the temple of Wiley that sent him to the canvas. Wiley made it to his feet but was still shaken and in trouble. Perez would go on to finish the round strong while Wiley fought back enough to get himself through the round.

Perez came out for the second round thinking knock out. He was throwing hard shots but only hit air for the most part early on. Wiley was putting the better combinations together but Perez was just too strong and found a way to bully Wiley to the ropes and let loose with power shots. A punch to the side of the head had Wiley in trouble again as the round ended.

The third round was better for Wiley who was figuring out he needed to use more movement and stay off the ropes to avoid the power of Perez. Wiley continued to show more angles and managed to land his best punch of the fight, a hard right hook to the head that buzzed Perez. Unfortunately for Wiley, it only seemed to anger Perez who came back with more power upstairs. To this point in the fight, Wiley was more of the combination puncher and mover while Perez was looking to trap Wiley along the ropes to have a better chance to unload on his opponent.

The fifth round was all Perez. A hard left hook to the head rocked Wiley and two more Perez rights bloodied the nose of his opponent. Perez dropped Wiley after some more punishment with an uppercut to the head. Wiley showed the heart that his fans are accustomed to as he rose to his feet to continue but he was taking a lot of punishment. A left-right-left combination offered from Perez was the last referee Mark Nelson would allow. Nelson stopped the fight at 2:26 of the fifth round.

After the bout, Perez stated that he was happy with his performance but also wanted to thank Wiley for giving him a tough fight. “ He’s a real tough fighter who also hits very hard. I’ve got nothing bad to say about him.” Stated Perez. On where he goes from here, Perez says that he will be going back to the gym to stay ready in case another opportunity like this presents itself. Wiley also gave his respect to Perez after the fight. “ He hits pretty hard! I was hurt after that punch that knocked me down in the first. It took me until about the third to really recover. I was boxing him pretty well and putting my punches together but he caught me pretty good in the fifth. I could have continued but I understand why the referee stopped it.”

In his first fight under Buddy McGirt, light heavyweight Zach "Jungleboy" Walters dominated Mike Wood in an impressive 5th round TKO.

The first four rounds were fought mostly in close quarters. But by the fifth round, Walters began using his height and reach more. It didn't take long for Walters to end matters after that.

In the first round, it was obvious that the 6"3 Walters had a huge advantage in height and reach. Walters of Duluth, Minnesota started the round jabbing. Wood of St. Louis, Missouri was very aggressive early and tried getting inside. Walters made him pay though with two hard right uppercuts to the head. Wood did land a solid left hook to Walters head, but Walters controlled the round with non-stop lefts and rights to the body and head. Walters, 173 started the second round with jabs, but it didn't take long for Wood to get inside again. It actually seemed like Walters preferred engaging with Wood in close. Wood's nose was bloodied during the round. Walters continued throwing and landing hard punches to Wood's body and head. Wood, 173, smiled whenever he was hit and showed plenty of toughness.

Wood continued swarming Walters in the third round. Again, Walters didn't seem to mind and dominated the round with his complete arsenal of punches. It was his right hand though that was doing the most damage to Wood's head and body throughout the fight. Wood continued showing his toughness in this round. Both fighters looked tired by the end of the round, but the beating Walters was administering was starting to show on Wood's face. In round four, Wood landed some nice jabs. But Walters seemed to hurt Wood with a right hand to the head. Sensing he'd hurt Wood, Walters attacked with punches to the head and body. As he did throughout the fight, Wood never backed down and continued fighting back. Despite all his heart and toughness, it was clear that Wood was taking a bad beating.

Even though he was dominating the fight, Walters looked tired at the beginning of round five and lost his mouthpiece for the third time of the fight. Wood didn't look energetic either and lost his mouthpiece after taking a punch. Walters started using his jab more and seemed to be trying to utilize his superior length and range. With more distance, Walters was able to set up the knockout punches: With about a minute left in the round, Walters hurt Wood badly with a hard right hand to the head. Blood immediately flowed over Wood's left eye and he backed into the ropes. Walters followed up with a hard right to the body and ended matters with another devastating right hand to Wood's head. Wood fell forward and Referee Mark Nelson didn't bother counting. The end came at 2:00 of fifth round.

After the fight, the 24-year-old Walters had nothing but respect for Wood. "I give the guy so much credit. He's tough as nails. He came out wanting to kill me," said Walters. "I'd stagger him and he'd come back with a killer shot. There is no stop in Mike Wood." McGirt, Walters' new trainer, said he was impressed with his new fighter's performance. "I think it was great. He fought a tough kid," McGirt said. "I think he put a lot of pressure on himself: being here in front of (his home state) and being our 1st fight together. But I think once he settled down, he put it together." Chuck "Sharky" Horton, Walters' manager and co-trainer, was impressed with Walters' non-stop punch output. "I bet he was averaging over 110 punches per round and he was landing them too," Horton said. The 22-year-old Wood falls to 12-3-1, 7 KO's.

Walters improves to 10-1, 9 KO's. "Look for big things to happen in (Walters) next fight," said Horton.

In his pro debut, Ben "The Principal" Lane defeated Deshawn Brooks via 1st round TKO. Brooks, also in his pro debut, came out winging wild haymakers. Lane remained calm, as an educator should, and threw the straighter punches. Lane hurt Brooks with a big right hand and followed up with combinations to the body. Brooks bent over into the ropes and turned his back on Lane. Brooks' corner had seen enough and stopped the fight. The bout ended at 1:48 of the 1st round. Lane improves to 1-0, 1 KO. Lane is the principal at The Minnesota Academy of Technology in St. Paul.

Ben "Showstopper" Dayee improved to 2-0, 2 KO's with a 2nd round TKO over the tough Mark Norge. The "Showstopper" attacked the body in round one. By round two, he was focusing on Norge's head. Norge went down for the 1st time from a right hand bomb. It was a left hook to head that put Norge down for the second time. Norge showed courage in getting up and finished the round, but his corner stopped the fight between rounds. The end came at 3:00 of the second round. Norge is now 5-15-2, 2 KO's. Chris Patterson of Ind. took the decision over hometown fighter Tony Grygelko of Anoka, Minnesota. Patterson was the much taller fighter and used his jab very effectively. Grygelko was most successful when he went to the body. Neither fighter was seriously hurt but each did manage to stun the other on different occasions. Patterson’s movement and combination punching was probably what won him most of the rounds on the judges cards. Grygelko came on strong in the final round as Patterson started to look a little fatigued. It was not enough however as Patterson went on to win 39-37, 39-37 and 38-38. In the opening bout, Chris Lund of St. Paul won a four-round unanimous decision over Nathan Wilkes. Lund knocked Wilkes down in round three with series of body blows. Wilkes attacked in spurts and landed some good shots, but Lund was the busier fighter throughout the fight. Lund won every round on all three judges cards.

On a personal note, I would like to send out my best wishes to the family and friends of Tommy Brunette. Tom was there for me going back to the very first fight I covered for Fightnews two and a half years ago. Anytime I needed anything; Tom would go out of his way to help me out. From beginning to end. No matter how much we disagreed on certain things, we always came to an understanding. That’s what I will remember most! You were a friend Tom, and will be missed. – Jesse Kelley

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