Darleys Pérez’s Lightweight Roller Coaster
On June 28, 2014, Darleys Pérez defeated Argenis López by unanimous decision to win the WBA interim lightweight championship in Santo Domingo. He was subsequently elevated to regular champion, fought Anthony Crolla to a draw in July 2015, and lost the rematch by fifth-round knockout that November.
Career Milestones and Fight Results
His first defining professional defeat came against Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2013, when Pérez challenged the Cuban star for an interim title and lost a clear decision. He returned to the title picture the following year. On June 28, 2014, in Santo Domingo, Pérez outpointed unbeaten Dominican Argenis López over twelve rounds to win the vacant WBA interim lightweight belt. It was a disciplined, hard-earned victory in López’s home country, and it moved Pérez from contender to champion.
The WBA later elevated Pérez to its regular championship after Richar Abril was stripped of the title. His first defense brought him to Manchester to face Anthony Crolla, a popular local fighter returning from a serious injury suffered during a burglary at his home. Pérez and Crolla fought to a contentious twelve-round draw on July 18, 2015. Crolla pressed the champion and appeared to have the crowd with him, while Pérez kept his belt; the initial split-draw announcement was corrected to a majority draw (WBA rematch order), with deductions for low blows adding to the drama.
The rematch four months later left no room for debate. Crolla targeted the body, knocked Pérez out with a left hook to the body in the fifth round at 2:30. Pérez lost the WBA title and Crolla finally claimed the championship in front of his home fans. The contrast between the two fights defines Pérez’s brief reign: a champion who survived a difficult first defense, then returned to the same arena and opponent to face a sharper, more determined challenger.
Pérez’s belt run lasted less than a year, but it included a major away win, a controversial draw, and a high-profile rematch that became one of the defining nights of Crolla’s career. The workout footage accompanying this profile offers a quieter glimpse of the preparation behind those championship rounds.
Explore more boxing and fighters on MMAUSA.
Sources
Article Tags
Darleys Perez, Boxing, Championship Fights, Boxing History
