Future Kings of LA
When you hear the words “King of L.A.”, who comes to mind? Do you think Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O’Neal? Perhaps Lebron James? For millions of boxing fans the King of L.A. can be found 8 miles east of downtown L.A. In Montebello California a gateway city with a rich history predating the city of Angeles. Here you will find the King of L.A., Leo Santa Cruz training at the Ponce de León Boxing club. But Leo isn’t the only future boxing hall famer in Montebello. The Ponce De Leon boxing club is owned by non other than boxing legend and retired professional boxer Daniel Ponce De Leon. Daniel Ponce De Leon the 2000 Mexican Olympian, 1999 Pan American Games flyweight medal Holder, 3 years WBO super bantamweight champion, 1-year WBC feather champion, and a friend to Leo Santa Cruz.
Mr. Leo Santa Cruz is a Mexican American featherweight boxer with a 37-1 record, with 17 finishes. A world champion several times over, Leo has held titles in 3 weight classes. Ranked by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board as pound for pound best featherweight and number 8 for pound for pound for best active fighters in the world. Leo Santa Cruz wasn’t born the King of L.A., he has cemented his legacy in boxing and earned the title of King. Even with so much accomplished, Leo Santa Cruz maintains a private and humble lifestyle. At no point will you hear of Mr. Cruz in the tabloids.
Even with so much accomplished the Champ has maintained a very low profile over. Leo Santa Cruz maintains a grip on reality by the company he keeps. Leo’s head coach and trainer are his father Don Jose Santa Cruz and his brother Antonio Cruz. This supporting cast has been instrumental and key to the success of the King of LA. To say the least they have suffered and celebrated together. To say there bond is thicker that blood is an understatement. So when the Champs father Don Jose Santa Cruz was diagnosed with spinal cancer one can only imagine the affect it had on the Santa Cruz family. Fortunately Leo’s father has the same warrior spirit he instilled in his son. “We were all crying, No matter. It don’t scare me. I’ll beat it. ” The words uttered by Don Jose announcing publicly that he had cancer. Not to be called a liar the Champs father beat the cancer.
Today Don Jose Santa Cruz is cancer free but deals with a regimented medication to keep the cancer at bay. Leo Santa Cruz and his father have sacrificed more for Boxing than any of us can ever understand. Mr. Leo Santa Cruz has cemented his undeniable legacy in boxing history and the city of LA will always be indebted to Mr. Santa Cruz for his generosity and heart. So when the King does decide to take the final curtain call and say good bye to the lights and the show who will be the future King of LA?
Some would debate that the young prospect Ryan Garcia could be the next great thing to come out of the LA Boxing scene. Already nick named King Ry, this young charming LA boxing upstart has the social media scene buzzing about his crazy speed. Moreover the charm is backed with knockout finishes and a contract with boxing legend Oscars Dela Hoya’s Golden Boy promotion. Nonetheless the Santa Cruz Team is not willing to leave the fate of their throne to the wolves. Leo and his father are grooming two young hungry lions to follow in the steps of Daniel Ponce De Leon and Leo Santa Cruz. From the High Desert Club in Oak Hills CA, come two the Tsavo Lions Jerry and Joey Perez.
“Whatever your life situation its all about choice, I determine my circumstances”, Jerry Perez utters these words to me as he preps to train at the American Boxing Gym in Costa Mesa Ca. “I either choose to settle or change my circumstance” Jerry explains as he starts to shadow box. Jerry Perez is a charming self-assured and self realized 25 year old featherweight pro boxer with a 9-0 record with 7 ko’s. His level of confidence was evident after watching Jerry stalk and break down a 40 fight pro veteran for the Knockout at the Quiet Canyon country club in Montebello. Jerry and his brother Jose (Joey) are both heavy-handed fighters with an ability to fight inside and outside. The puncher boxer style the brothers’ share is a nightmare matchup for any opponent they face.
Joey Perez is 23-year-old super bantamweight turned featherweight with a record of 5-1 with one TKO finish. Just like his older sibling Joey is very self-assured and self realized but carries a more reserved persona. I got a chance to watch this silent killer perform at the Montebello and he did disappoint. At the time his opponent was out of TMT was staggered twice and dropped once. Ironically Joey dropped his opponent using a pull counter, a boxing move made famous by Floyd Mayweather of TMT. Though this was a great night for the Joey, the young fighter has had to deal with some early on growing pains earlier in his pro career. For Jthe first 5 fights Joey Perez was scheduled for Joey’s opponents kept coming over agreed contract weight. Joey never to shy from a fight, would expect all bouts fighting bigger opponents, regrettably this would lead to his first loss. “Your first loss hurts a lot but, you have to know where your minds at” Joey speaking about his loss. After hearing these words and Jerry’s sense of direction and purpose, I started to get the full picture.
These brothers were not just two pro boxes from LA, these young have purpose, vision, and a burning desire to be the greatest. Joey and Jerry show a level of depth and awareness past their age. Some people have it and some people don’t! The Perez brothers have the fighting spirit. At the age of 10 Jerry and his brother would rough house and fight constantly around the house. So much, their father Jerry Perez Sr. fed up and finally tired of spanking the boys “you guys gonna fight, I’m going to take you where you gonna fight for real’’. After a month of training at Oscar Dela Hoya gym and a sparring session that went south, Jerry Perez decided boxing wasn’t for him.
It wasn’t until Jerry and Joey Perez started training at the High Desert boxing club in Oak Hills CA that Boxing became a serious enterprise. Here the brothers were initiated and educated in the art of boxing in the southern California Amateurs. In due time the brothers endured and eventually overcame this rite of passage and are now legends in there hometown. The brother’s great talent and willingness to put in work is evident. However the opportunity at greatness and boxing immortality was almost lost. At the age of 19 Jerry and his younger brother Joey found themselves not training, living couch to couch, and partying way too much. “We were never regular kids, and all we did was box”, Jerry speaking on why things almost fell apart. Today Jerry and Joey are sober and prep for fights like it’s the end of the world. “Sometimes you have to hit bottom to truly appreciate what you have”, Joey explains. Jerry and Joey are forever grateful to their family and God Father for helping them find their way.
With a new lease and appreciation for life and boxing it was time for the brothers to take their abilities on the road. Las Vegas would be the first stop at the world famous The Money Team(TMT). This is home gym to Floyd Mayweather Sr and Roger Mayweather, the father and uncle team to highest paid athlete ever and world famous boxer Floyd Mayweather Junior. The brothers thrived in vegas and gained a lot experience at TMT but it just didn’t feel like home. Though Vegas and TMT would be a dream come true for most fighters, the shoe just didn’t fit.
In due time destiny came knocking for the brothers! A family associate was able to set up a meeting with Leo Santa Cruz. This proved to be the lucky break the Perez brothers needed. “They told us they would get us fights”, Jerry speaking of his first meeting with Leo Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz camp would not disappoint and held to their promise. Joey and Jerry Perez have had a total of 14 professional fights with 13 wins and 8 finishes. It’s been a blessing and an honor for the brothers to train next to Leo Santa Cruz at the Ponce De Leon boxing club. It’s closer to home, a Mexican American gym, similar fighting styles and an opportunity to train with their childhood hero the King of LA. “You have to get in where you fit in” Jerry Perez explaining his transition from the Money Team to the Ponce De Leon boxing gym.
“The mark of greatness is when everything before you is obsolete, and everything after you bears your mark.” This unquestionably holds true for great athletes such as Michael Jordan and now also Leo Santa Cruz. The King of LA is having a legendary career as a three time diamond belt champion, having held 3 titles in three weight divisions, holds the record for most punches thrown and ranked the worlds best featherweight. Leo has sacrificed sweat, blood, time and tears to earn the right to be called the King of Los Angeles. With everything sacrificed Leo Santa Cruz is not leaving it to chance to decide who the next King of LA will be. Guarding the gates of the throne are two the Tsavo Lions Jerry and Joey Perez waiting to deal with any would be challengers. Perez brothers are men on a mission, self-confident and single-minded. The brothers understand their purpose and vision and are willing to do whatever it takes to make it real. It’s not their strength that makes them great athlete it’s their understanding in and out of the ring. Nonetheless the brothers have it all, the might, the mind and a team that’s proven. Marry all these attributes with and a hatred of the average you have the making of champions. When Jerry was asked whom do you want for your next opponent, “I want Ryan Garcia” aka King Ry.
Jose Quintero “Better late than never” http://www.vvdailypress.com/sport Daily Press 6/26/2018
Jose Quintero “Corner Talk: A dream about Perez” http://www.vvdailypress.com/sports Daily Press 03/5/2017
Paul Raffaele “Man Eaters Tsavo” http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science Smithsonian Magizine 01/2010
Lance Pugmire “Boxing champion Leo Santa Cruz reveals his father’s fight with cancer” www.latimes.com/sports LA Times 03/12/2016
