Perozzi preparing for possible rematch
Teresa Perozzi has jump started her preparations for a potential rematch with American Tori Nelson.No date or venue has yet to be confirmed for the bout. However, it’s understood that both camps are close to signing an agreement that could potentially see the two fighters face off in a championship match for the vacant WBC middleweight belt in Bermuda next February.Confident that Nelson will eventually agree to a rematch, reigning WBA middleweight champ Perozzi has gone ahead and begun preparations to get herself in shape for what could turn out to be another bruising encounter between the two fighters.“I’m back in the gym and I never stopped my cardio and strength training and I’ve just kicked back into the boxing gym last week,” Perozzi told The Royal Gazette. “I’m just trying to stay in shape but I’m not sparring or anything like that at the moment.”Perozzi (8-4-2) plans to begin sparring once the rematch with the unbeaten Nelson (6-0-2) has been etched in stone and will again train under coach Troy Darrell.“He’s not there yet, but he’s definitely onboard for the next one and the plan is to start sparring six weeks before the fight,” the local southpaw confirmed.Perozzi and the unbeaten Nelson battled to draw in last October’s ‘All or Nothing’ WBC & WBA middleweight unification championship bout at Fairmont Southampton. Judges Lynn Carter (USA) and Claude Paquette (Canada) both scored the fight 95-95 while local judge Vic Richmond scored it 98-93 in Perozzi’s favour.The outcome enabled Perozzi to retain the WBA belt while the WBC belt, once held by Nelson, remains up for grabs.Both fighters felt they had done enough to earn the spoils after going the ten round distance.“I still think I did enough but obviously I just need to do more and that’s the plan,” Perozzi said. “I’ve watched the fight several times and I’m pretty objective. I don’t want to win a fight I didn’t deserve and I definitely didn’t see her winning five rounds.”Should a rematch come to fruition, Perozzi says she will try her best to avoid being dragged into a brawl.“I totally have to outbox her because she’s a brawler and I don’t see her being able to change her style,” the mother of one said. “If anything she will probably try and be more aggressive, so I have to move even more. I want to match her aggression but keep boxing.”Perozzi added: “I’ve got a lot of compliments on how much my boxing has improved and I want to do that again and not resort to brawling. I know the crowd likes that, but when you’re fighting a brawler you outbox them, and that’s really my plan.”