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LAS VEGAS – A confident Kevin Salgado smiled, as if he knows something Bryant Perrella and unfamiliar fans are about to learn Saturday night.
Salgado acknowledged that he’ll take a significant step up in class when he opposes Perrella, who fought to a 12-round split draw with former WBC super welterweight champ Tony Harrison in his most recent fight. At 24, however, Salgado believes that this is the perfect time for him to start demonstrating to the boxing public that his older brother, Juan Carlos Salgado, won’t be the only champion from their family.
Showtime will air the 10-round, 155-pound bout in which Mexico City’s Salgado (14-0, 9 KOs) will face Perrella (17-3-1, 14 KOs), of Fort Myers, Florida, as the opener of a three-bout broadcast that’ll begin at 10 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. PT.
“I’m really excited about making my debut here in Vegas, and against a high-caliber, experienced fighter like Perrella,” said Salgado, whose first 14 professional fights have taken place in Mexico since October 2016. “It doesn’t get better than that. At the same time, I’m staying even keeled. I’m ready. I feel confident and you’re gonna see a new Mexican star being born on Saturday night.”
Juan Carlos Salgado, a two-time 130-pound champion, trains his younger brother. Roy Jones Jr. trains Perrella, a southpaw who believes he did more than enough to defeat Harrison in their 12-round, 154-pound bout nearly a year ago in Los Angeles.
“He’s a skilled fighter, someone that has a lot of experience,” Kevin Salgado said. “I did see his fight [against Harrison], and I thought Perrella won, in my opinion. In the end, it doesn’t really matter now because I believe in my preparation. The way I prepared was stellar and I’m ready for the challenge on Saturday night.”
Perrella, 33, gave Harrison fits in a fight FOX televised last April 17 from Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall.
Judge Max De Luca still scored eight rounds for Harrison (116-112). Judge Lou Moret scored nine rounds for Perrella (117-111), whereas judge Zachary Taylor scored their fight a draw (114-114).
“Southpaws aren’t something that intimidate me or that are particularly difficult for me,” Kevin Salgado said. “He’s just another opponent that I have to figure out. And I know that I will figure him out.”
Caesars Sportsbook has established Perrella as a 3-1 favorite to defeat Salgado.
Following Perrella-Salgado, Showtime will air a 10-round, 154-pound co-feature that’ll pit Detroit’s Harrison (28-3-1, 21 KOs) against Spain’s Sergio Garcia (33-1, 14 KOs). In the 12-round main event, Erickson Lubin (24-1, 17 KOs), of Orlando, Florida, and Sebastian Fundora (18-0-1, 12 KOs), of Coachella, California, will fight for the WBC interim super welterweight title.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.