The best roster in boxing added to its luster this week with Golden Boy Promotions’ signing of current WBA Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Johan Perez and unbeaten former amateur standout Julian Ramirez to multi-year promotional agreements.
“This is a big day for us and I’m proud to have these two boxers fighting for us now,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Boxing will never grow if we don’t keep cultivating new talent and in Johan and Julian, we’ve signed two fighters that you’re going to be hearing a lot about in the months and years to come.”
A 28-year-old native of Caracas, Venezuela, Johan Perez (15-0-1, 12 KO’s) turned professional in 2005 and rang up five consecutive knockout victories. Following a two-year layoff resulting from the lack of professional boxing events being promoted in Venezuela, he returned in 2009 and steam-rolled through all comers, with the only blemish on his record being a 2011 draw with 16-0 fellow prospect Alberto Mosquera. Along the way, Perez fought anyone, anywhere, with stops in Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, England and Mexico garnering him a solid fanbase and the WBA Fedecentro and WBA Fedelatin super lightweight titles. In October of 2011, he stunned highly-regarded Kenny Galarza with a fourth round technical knockout victory and less than two months later, he won the WBA Interim Super Lightweight World Championship with a fourth round stoppage of Fernando Castaneda, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable future.
19-year-old Julian Ramirez (2-0, 2 KO’s) hails from Alhambra, Calif. and, as the nephew of the late, great Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez, this talented teenager undoubtedly has boxing in his blood. A long-time amateur standout, Ramirez compiled a record of 73-5 en route to racking up 10 tournament titles including four World Desert Showdown titles, four National PAL titles, one Junior Olympics Championship and the 2011 Mexico Games Championship. In February of this year, he made his professional debut with a first round knockout win over Javier Damien. Two months later, Salvador Cifuentes suffered the same fate, lasting just 80 seconds with the hard-hitting Ramirez, who has ‘star’ written all over him.
Both fighters’ first fights under the Golden Boy Promotions banner will be announced at a later date.