Fort Myers, FL (August 10, 2016) – With his grueling training camp completed, undefeated welterweight rising star Bryant “Goodfella” Perrella was ready to fly to Verona, NY and enter the ring Friday evening for a nationally televised fight against 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Yordenis Ugas. Unfortunately, his fight with Ugas was unjustifiably cancelled by the Oneida Indian Athletic Commission.
During Perrella’s June 4 second round knockout of David Grayton, he suffered a thumb injury. While receiving a standard post fight visit from Quebec Athletic Commission officials, they took note of the injury. When the Ugas fight was scheduled, Quebec’s notes on Perrella were sent to the Oneida Commission. In order to face Ugas, Perrella was told that he must receive approval from a doctor. The 27-year-old twice visited a hand specialist, receiving formal written clearance to fight August 12. Team Perrella submitted the paperwork to the Oneida Commission and were prepared to put on a show Friday evening. Surprisingly, the commission refused to license him even with formal clearance.
“I’ve been involved in combat sports most of my adult life and thought I’d seen it all but this is without question a first,” said Perrella’s trainer Michael Nowling. “Bryant had a really good camp and we were both confident that this performance would get him to the next level but now we’ve got to wait for another fight date. This is extremely unfair because Bryant had medical clearance like they had requested but the commission inexplicably decided to cancel the bout on a few days notice. I’m looking forward to getting out next date and even with this mishap I’m still a believer that everything happens for a reason.”
Perrella, who was looking to go 15-0 and become the first man to stop the crafty Ugas, is disappointed but took the high road.
“I was ready to go. I was approved to fight by a hand specialist but the commission’s doctor had the ultimate decision and decided otherwise. We feel that this would’ve been my most spectacular performance to date but I’m no stranger to obstacles being put in my path. It develops character. I believe everything happens for a reason and God has other plans for me. This only added fuel to the fire. A beast just got released and cannot be tamed. I’ll be bigger, badder and better than ever when I get back in that ring!”
Team Perrella is expecting their next fight date to be announced shortly.