Mike Perez will have Magomed Abdusalamov’s name “Mago” stitched on his trunks when he enters the ring to face Carlos Takam of France on Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
“I just want to honor him,” Perez said of Abdusalamov, the Russian heavyweight who was his last opponent.
That was Nov. 2 at the Garden Theater, where Perez and Abdusalamov met in the co-feature of a doubleheader on HBO. Both were unbeaten prospects looking to impress a national television audience. Neither took a step backward. It became a bloody 10-round slugfest, and Perez earned a unanimous decision.
But before the sun rose, Abdusalamov was in a coma after undergoing emergency brain surgery at a Manhattan hospital. He also would suffer a stroke. More than two months later, Abdusalamov is currently in a rehabilitation center. He cannot speak, and progress in his recovery is measured by the slightest movement.
“I hate that for him,” Perez told The Post. “I’m dedicating this fight to him. I’m praying for his full recovery and hope he gets healthy.”
Perez (20-0, 12 KOs) is a Cuban defector who now lives in Ireland. He didn’t learn of the extent of Abdusalamov’s injuries until he had returned home. It was devastating news.
Their battle of southpaws had produced one of the best heavyweight fights on U.S. soil in recent memory. A sold-out Garden Theater cheered throughout. But instead of celebrating his win, Perez spent his next days praying for his fallen opponent.
“It definitely affected everyone on the team,” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, which backs Perez. “He wasn’t trying to hurt Magomed. He was just trying to win the fight.”
The brutal bout was allowed to continue despite Abdusalamov complaining to his corner about a badly swollen cheekbone, a broken nose and a broken hand. He was given a post-fight exam by doctors appointed by the New York State Athletic Commission and was told to go to the hospital — by taxi. After an examination, Abdusalamov underwent surgery for a blood clot. He hasn’t spoken since.
New York state officials have yet to reveal findings of an investigation into the care Abdusalamov received during and after the bout. The state also is said to be interviewing candidates for the new position of executive director at the NYSAC.
Meanwhile, Perez, 28, is trying to continue with his promising career. A win over Takam (29-1, 23 KOs) on HBO could lead to a more high-profile fight against Bryant Jennings of Philadelphia, who takes a 17-0 record with 9 knockouts into his fight with Artur Szpika (16-0, 12 KOs) of Poland on Jan. 25 at the Garden Theater.
Dedicating the fight to Abdusalamov is added motivation.
“This is a great opportunity for me,” Perez said. “To be on HBO again is good. I’m very close to fighting for a world title. I’m expecting a great fight.”
Perez was with his family in Ireland for only a month before returning to the mountains of Big Bear, Calif., to work with trainer Abel Sanchez and his stable of boxers, which includes Gennady Golovkin, the middleweight champion.
Sanchez wasn’t in Perez’s corner against Abdusalamov because Golovkin was in the main event on Nov. 2. But he will be Saturday against Takam.
It was good Perez got right back to work with Sanchez and other boxers. He looks all-business and ready to have a breakout year in 2014. But the ring will reveal whether Perez has been affected by Abdusalamov’s ordeal.
“People are going to tune in to see how he reacts,” Loeffler said. “There’s been a lot of attention focused on him because of what happened to Magomed. We’re trying to turn it into positive attention.”
Perez, ranked No. 5 by the WBC and No. 10 by the WBO, will donate a portion of his purse to Abdusalamov’s family.
Light-heavyweights Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute, both of Canada, meet in the main event.