By Hans Olson, Ringside
In a sensational performance on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, Antonin Decarie (27-1), fighting on the road outside his home province of Quebéc, won the WBC International welterweight title when he destroyed the previously unbeaten Alex Perez (16-1) at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut.
After a first round feeling out process, Antonin picked it up, started landing his straight right hand at will and out-boxed the taller man in Perez. Decarie moved well, occasionally slipping nice left hooks along the way.
“It was a stunning performance,” said Antonin’s promoter Yvon Michel to Boxing Insider after the fight.
“We have to give Antonin all the credit because although he was injured and let down due to some cancellations [of previous fights], he stayed focused. An opportunity arose and he was ready.”
A big win on HBO will certainly raise Decarie’s stock.
“It was his best performance, at the best place. He’ll be back I’m sure on HBO,” said Michel.
Just how was Decarie so dominant? Boxing Insider also spoke with trainer Marc Ramsay.
“The main strategy was to be outside of his reach,” said Ramsay.
“When you fight against a guy that’s tall like that, you need to fight either very close, or from a longer distance. You don’t want to be stuck at the end of the jab. Antonin was moving around, and he started to touch Perez with the right hand. We controlled the distance and he was able to use the space with that strategy.
“He put his punches together and followed directly with his right hand. He did the strategy perfect!”
In the 6th round, Decarie exploded with a furious display of rights and lefts, dropping Perez and ultimately finishing him at 2:54.
In earlier action, Framingham, MA native Danny O’Connor destroyed Kansas City’s Josh Sosa, stopping him thirty-three seconds into round three; Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczweski out-pointed Jeremy McLaurin; Luis Rosa stopped Victor Valenzuela; Sonya Lamonakis decisioned Tanzee Daniels; and Isaac Chilemba defeated Rayco Saunders.
