Abraham Perez Wins Split Decision Over Jonathan Gonzalez After 12-Round Battle

Abraham Perez overcame a determined challenge from Jonathan Gonzalez to earn a hard-fought 12-round split decision victory, with two judges scoring the bout 115-113 for Perez and one judge awarding a 115-113 score to Gonzalez.

From the opening bell, Perez relied on his speed and movement while trying to establish his jab against the southpaw Gonzalez. Gonzalez had success early by attacking the body, landing two hard left hands while making the straight left his primary weapon. Perez, however, used his defense and footwork to stay out of danger.

In the second round, Gonzalez applied steady pressure, but Perez answered with one of his best moments of the fight, landing a hard right hand that sent Gonzalez back to the ropes. Perez later connected with a solid left hook and appeared to be timing Gonzalez as he came forward.

Perez continued to gain momentum in the third round, catching Gonzalez with clean shots while the aggressive challenger increased his pressure but was repeatedly hit entering the pocket.

The middle rounds belonged largely to Perez. By the sixth round, he had taken firm control, landing effective body shots and crisp right hands that visibly stunned Gonzalez, who continued loading up on his left hand in search of a momentum-changing punch.

Rounds seven and eight saw Perez increase his pace even more. His quicker hands repeatedly clipped Gonzalez as he came forward, while Gonzalez relied primarily on pressure and looked to land one big shot at a time. Perez’s speed, timing, and accuracy allowed him to dictate the action.

In rounds nine and ten, Gonzalez continued to press forward but threw fewer punches than earlier in the fight. Although there were several competitive exchanges, the pace slowed somewhat, and Perez continued to pick Gonzalez apart with well-timed counters as he entered.

Gonzalez appeared to have his strongest late surge in the 11th round, increasing his pressure while Perez was less active offensively. The sustained aggression allowed Gonzalez to seemingly edge the round.

The 12th and final round featured urgency from both fighters, as each looked to secure the closing frame in what they knew could be a close fight. Gonzalez continued pressing the action, while Perez answered with sharp counters and timely combinations. Both men had their moments as they battled through the final bell.

Boxing New Mexico unofficially scored the contest 116-112 in favor of Abraham Perez, believing his speed, counterpunching, and control of the middle rounds were the difference. Officially, however, the judges returned a split decision: one judge scored the bout 115-113 for Jonathan Gonzalez, while the other two judges each scored it 115-113 for Abraham Perez, giving Perez the victory by split decision.

The win showcased Perez’s ability to adapt to relentless pressure, using superior timing, defense, and precision punching to earn one of the biggest victories of his career over a tough and determined