Perez, Legacy Promotions just keep punching; 'La Bala' fights on March 30

In scheduling Legacy Promotions’ 26th or 27th professional boxing card — he wasn’t sure which — Aaron Perez had to get creative.

Literally.

Perez, co-founder of a New Mexico-based organization that began promoting in 2015 — he now partners with Gabriel Carlin — planned to stage Saturday’s event at Expo New Mexico’s Manuel Lujan Exhibit Complex, where Legacy has promoted several times in the past.

But, he said, the Lujan complex was booked.

“I jumped the gun,” Perez said on Monday in a phone interview. “Luckily, the Creative Arts Center was open.”

Saturday’s card will be the first boxing event ever in the Creative Arts Center, located just west of Tingley Coliseum. Many boxing fans, it’s likely, have parked right next to it for events staged at Tingley or the Lujan complex.

The Creative Arts Center, Perez said, is suitable for the purpose.

“It’s pretty much the same size (as the Lujan complex),” he said. “It’s got beams, lower ceilings, but it’ll work.

Perez also originally planed to have his son Aaron Angel Perez fight Saturday’s main event while the elder Perez sought out-of-state opportunities for his younger son, Abraham.

Instead, Abraham Perez (9-0, five KOs) will face Californian Fernando Diaz (13-4-1, four KOs) in a 10-round main event. The vacant WBC Youth Silver flyweight title will be at stake.

Angel Perez now is scheduled for an eight-round lightweight co-main event against Mexico’s Juan Antonio Meza (8-9, two KOs). A total of eight bouts are planned.

This being the 26th or 27th Legacy card, Aaron Perez said, there definitely will be a 27th or 28th. But he’s willing to make more adjustments.

A victory on Saturday for Abraham Perez, his father said, might help open doors elsewhere for greater opportunities. Diaz, the opponent, has some quality wins.

“I think this fight,” he said, “if all goes well, will pretty much solidify (Abraham) as a big competitor in the flyweight division.”

Angel Perez, meanwhile, is still on the road back after a two-year ring hiatus. He defeated Mexico native and Clovis resident Rafael Reyes in his return debut on a Legacy card on Nov. 4.

It’s noteworthy that New Jersey’s Raymond Ford, whom Angel Perez fought to an eight-round draw in March 2021, is now the WBA world featherweight champion.

If Aaron Perez can get either or both of his sons the out-of-state opportunities he wants for them, he’d have options as a promoter.

“I might start co-promoting with bigger entities,” he said. “(But) I’d still like to have smaller events, or events like (Saturday’s), with the fighters coming up in the state.”

The entire premise in the founding of Legacy Promotions, Perez said, was to get New Mexico fighters much-needed experience before fighting elsewhere — too often as “the opponent.”

“We still have the same goals in mind,” he said, “as far as (New Mexicans) not being sitting ducks when they go out and fight somewhere else.”

Examples:

• Albuquerque’s Jason Sanchez (16-5, nine KOs), who fought on nine Legacy cards, later signed a contract with international promoter Top Rank, Inc., and fought for a world title in 2019.
• Jose Luis “Guero” Sanchez (14-3-1, four KOs), Jason’s older brother, fought on eight Legacy cards. Riding a three-fight win streak, he’s scheduled to face unbeaten Santiago Rodriguez (26-0, 20 KOs) on a Golden Boy Promotions card on March 30 in Los Angeles.

Aaron Perez has similar high hopes for some of the fighters on Saturday’s card — among them Kirtland middleweight Elija Martinez (3-0), a junior national champion as an amateur.

“You never know,” Perez said. “Somebody might get hot. … There’s some talent coming up.”

For tickets for Saturday's card, scaled from $25-$65, call 505-382-5126. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; first bell is scheduled for 7.

LA BALA’S BACK: Cleveland High School graduate Brian “La Bala” Mendoza (22-3, 16 KOs) has taken a short-notice fight on March 30 against Ukraine’s hard-punching Serhii Bohachuk (23-1, 23 KOs) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The WBC interim world super welterweight title will be at stake.

That’s not the only change on the card.

Tim Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs), who defeated Mendoza by unanimous decision in October in defense of the Australian’s WBO super welter title, was to have fought Keith Thurman in the March 30 main event.

After Thurman withdrew due to an injury, Sebastian Fundora (21-2-1, 13 KOs), who was to have fought Bohachuk, stepped up to challenge Tszyu. Mendoza won the WBC interim belt with a seventh-round knockout of Fundora in April 2023.

Mendoza stepped up to replace Fundora. Mendoza has not fought since the Tszyu fight but had stayed in shape — recently working with his former foe in the Australian’s preparation for his now-canceled fight against Thurman.

It’s not clear whether Mendoza retained the WBC interim belt after challenging Tszyu for the WBO title.

March 30, which already loomed as a busy and eventful date for New Mexico fighters, suddenly becomes busier and more eventful.

In addition to Jose Luis Sanchez’s bout in Los Angeles, Albuquerque’s Sharahya Moreu is scheduled to fight as a professional for the second time that night in San Antonio, Texas.

Moreu (1-0) is matched against Jessie Clark (pro debut).