Unbeaten in 18 pro bouts, Scottish southpaw Craig McEwan has been taking out every middleweight in his path over the last four years. On Friday, July 23rd, he will have to get passed local favorite Danny Perez in the main event of TeleFutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.
Local boxing hero, Danny Perez, gets another shot at fame and fortune when he faces Scotish sensation Craig McEwan at the Pechanga Resort & Casino July 23, 2010. Photo credit: J. Wyatt
This McEwan/Perez matchup replaces the original Sergio Mora/Juan Carlos Candelo bout that was cancelled due to Mora’s signing of a more lucrative contract to fight Sugar Shane Mosley in September.
What makes the McEwan/Perez matchup intriguing is the fact the two boxers are now at the crossroads of their careers. McEwan at 28 years of age is in his prime and the storied veteran, Perez, at 33 years of age might be slipping a bit.
Over his 15-year career, Perez (34-7, 17 KO’s), a Carlsbad, CA. native, has been in with some of the best boxers in the game to include the highly touted Cuban prospect Erislandy Lara, Jesse Brinkley and former World Champion Antonio Margarito (twice) who he sent to the canvas in a razor thin split decision loss in their first fight. Perez lost his last two bouts, the one against Erislandy Lara (11-0) and Carlos Molina (17-4).
The native of Edinburgh, Scotland, McEwan (18-0, 10 KO’s) established himself as one of the best prospects to emerge from the United Kingdom in years. He has wins over Brian Vera, Darnell Boone and James Parison. The Freddie Roach trained McEwan plans to make Perez the next big name on his resume.
Paramount’s 23-year old featherweight prospect Charles Huerta (13-1, 7 KO’s) has bounced back after his shocking upset first round knockout loss to Derrick Wilson (7-1) on July 30th of last year with easy wins over two patsies, Rodrigo Aranda and Guadalupe DeLeon. Aranda and DeLeon’s combined record in their last 12 matches, two wins and 10 loses. This time out, Huerta will be facing Mexicali’s Jonathan Arias (15-5, 8 KOs’). Arias’ road to success has been paved by fighting boxers of questionable ability. The combined record of his last six opponents is 10-35-1.
Also on the undercard, 21-year-old power puncher Keith Thurman (12-0) has 11 knockouts with eight of those knockouts coming in the first round. His opponent, Cuba’s Stalinn Lopez, (7-0, 3 KOs’) is perfect in seven starts.
