Perozzi and Nelson ready to rumble
Teresa Perozzi and Tori Nelson met face to face for the first time yesterday since slugging it out in a drawn unifying championship bout for the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) belts at Fairmont Southampton last October.The two middleweight boxers spoke to reporters during a press conference at Fairmont Hamilton that was also attended by family, promoters, referee Steve Smoger and judge William Boodhoo who is among the ringside officials presiding over tomorrow night’s ten round championship bout for the vacant WBC crown at Berkeley Institute Gym.Flanked by their respective trainers, with the vacant WBC belt proudly on display in front of them, both fighters looked to be in great physical shape, extremely composed and confident of victory.Southpaw Perozzi (9-4-2) said: “I expect a lot of the same, more aggression. We know each other now so I expect a great fight. Definitely she will be ready and I will be ready.”The mother of one anticipates her rematch with the unbeaten Nelson will “be a better fight” than the first encounter.“I don’t think either one of us expects exactly the same thing and you’d be stupid to think you’re going to get exactly that,” she said. “I expect better from both of us, we’ll see Saturday night and I think we both feel confident and that’s great. Tori is a tough girl and it’s going to be tough for both of us.”The orthodox Nelson (6-0-2), who is the top ranked middleweight in her native USA and second in the world, is confident she can come away from the bout with the desired result.“I’m still confident I can beat her because I’m blessed,” the devoted Christian declared. “I’ve trained hard and I just feel that it’s not about beating her but showing the judges that I beat her clear.”The current Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) champ and mother of two added: “I know she’s probably not going to come the same, but I’m prepared for either. I’ll box her if she wants to box or fight her if she wants to fight. It doesn’t matter to me.”Perozzi, who is the third ranked middleweight in the world, refused to be drawn into pre-fight “trash talk” with her American rival.“I’m leaving my talking for the ring,” she said. “I’m not a trash talker if that’s what you guys are looking for ... you’re not going to get it. I know I’ve put in 110 percent and I’m ready.Perozzi’s trainer and Bermuda Sports Hall of Famer Troy Darrell believes he has the right formula to carry the local southpaw to victory.“Tori is a person who likes to come forward and likes to slug and punch and likes to get into the mix,” he said. “So we are going to counteract that, basically make her miss and make her pay — that’s what we are looking for.”Nelson’s trainer, Craig Fladager has urged his fighter to be more “busier” in the ring than she was in the previous bout with Perozzi.“She’s got to be busier,” he insisted. “She stalked her too much looking for the big shot (in the first fight). The fight plan was good, it was just execution.”He added: “We don’t have to stray too far from what we were doing, you can’t just look for that one perfect shot — it never comes. You got to put punches together.”Reigning WBA champ Perozzi said she isn’t fazed by her rival’s unbeaten record in rematches.“I’m not concerned,” she added. “We got to do it, we need a result.”Nelson captured the WBC belt in July 2011 following her win against Lorissa Rivas in Trinidad and Tobago but was forced to vacate the title the next year after failing to secure an opponent.Tickets for tomorrow’s night’s Teachers Rugby Fight Night 15 ‘The Rematch’ can be obtained at International Sports Shop and PTIX.BM.Doors open at 7pm with the first of the ten scheduled fights beginning at 8pm.