JOSE Manuel Perez had the proverbial puncher’s chance against boxing binman Josh Rose.
The Acocks Green southpaw was too razor sharp for that sole chance to surface during a one-sided Saturday night four-rounder.
On manager Anthony Manning’s show at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, former multi-title amateur Rose was too fresh, skilful and sharp for the fighter from El Salvador. He pocketed every round, referee Ryan Churchill scoring 40-36.
That is 19-year-old Rose’s second pro win in the bank – and it was achieved with a lot less drama and emotion than his debut victory over Caine Singh.
In that one, Josh was dragged into a dogfight after flooring Singh and the tears flowed afterwards.
Saturday night was a much more business-like affair. Eyes remained dry.
“It’s my second fight, I’m still learning,” Josh, trained by Gary Turner, said afterwards. “I think I’m exciting, I perform better under pressure, I’ve sparred all the big boys and held my own.”
He added: “I’m only 19, I’m taking my time.”
On paper, the clash with Perez, head and shoulders shorter than Rose, looked intriguing.
The visitor has a patchy record, but 10 of his 14 wins have come inside distance. He could evidently bang.
On canvas, where it matters, Rose never gave Perez the opportunity to pull the trigger.
With blindingly fast hands, Josh (9st 4lbs) unleashed a steady stream of leather. His 36-year-old opponent hardly had time to breathe, let alone build a meaningful attack.
Jabs kept Perez (9st 2lbs) respectful in the first, lefts downstairs chipped away at his ambition. In the second, Josh clattered three right hands in a row off the South American’s head, then blazed away at his body.
Perez took the avalanche coming his way with gloves high and an unwavering hound-dog expression.
By the third, Rose was doubling the jab and driving home sickening left hooks to the ribs.
The barrage downstairs continued in the final session. Perez may well still be feeling those blows now.
In a previous interview, Josh told me: “I believe I’m going all the way, one hundred per cent. If I’m not in it to go all the way, I can’t see the point of being in it at all.”
It’s too early to say whether the featherweight can go “all the way” – his fine amateur CV suggest he has a better chance than most.
But he will certainly create a stir on the home front.
