The former amateur boxing superstar Jose "The Punisher" Perez won his 7th straight victory as a pro. The bout was televised on ESPN2 "Friday Night Fights" From San Jose, CA

SAN JOSE, California (May 16, 2005) - The Punisher fought a tough and rugged opponent in Abraham Verdugo, prior to the fight he had several fighters ready to go and then they backed out, Verdugo was added just a few days before the fight

Also the fight was originally scheduled for 6 rounds but had to be changed to a 4 rounder for the live telecast.

With all these things going on behind the scenes Jose still had the composure of a ring veteran even though he is just 21! The battered and bruised Verdugo survived all four rounds, however I'm sure he will be feeling it in the morning!

The punishing style of Jose Perez Jr. was just to much for Verdugo:

ESPN's ring announcer Teddy Atlas was impressed with Jose's skills in the ring and had good things to say about Jose during the "Friday The 13th" telecast

Jose said: I did OK, I mean I had never fought a dirty fighter before. He was hitting after the bell and trying to head butt me. Hey, it's a fight right! I did OK. My last fight here I KO'd the guy in 49 seconds of the first round and all my fans got mad at me, so I decided to make the fight last a little longer this time (Laughing)

Emanuel Steward Trainer and Manager (founder of the "Kronk" boxing gym, Detroit city) who was at the fight and had these great words to say about Jose:

In my opinion I feel Jose is at the top of his class (being the 2004 Olympians) I'm mean the likes of Andre Ward, Vicente Escobedo all of them, Jose even though he did not go to the Olympics, to me he is still the top prospect from that class. He looked sharp during the fight, He did what a lot of beginning boxers don't do and that is to take their time, stay relaxed and focused, getting the job done without making lots of mistakes, he will only get better with time!