Photo Credit: Tom Hogan-HoganPhotos/Golden Boy Promotions) By Jim Dower: Unbeaten welterweight prospect Dmitry Mikhaylenko (20-0, 9 KOs) had an easy time pounding an over-matched 5’11” Johan Perez (20-3-1, 13 KOs) in scoring an 8th round knockout last Saturday night to capture the NABA welterweight title at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.
The lanky 5’11” rail-thin Perez was hurt in the 8th round from a series of hard shots from the Russian Mikhaylenko. Even before the referee stepped in to halt the fight at 1:21 of the 8th round, it was obvious from Perez’s body language that he wanted the fight stopped.