James Perella (R) picture by Emily Harney/Fightography)
BOSTON (November 9, 2021) – One of New England’s hottest and best pro boxing prospects, undefeated James “The Slim Reaper” Perella (8-0, 6 KOs), made a critical life decision a few years ago and as he continues to fine tune his vast skills in the ring November 20th, the Mansfield (MA) welterweight is starting to make waves.
The rapidly developing Perella will take on Floridian Andre Byrd (8-11-2, 1 KO) in Vertex Promotions’ “Fall Brawl” co-feature at Moseley’s On The Charles in Dedham, Massachusetts. It will mark Perella’s first scheduled 8-round bout.
An outstanding USA Boxing amateur boxer, Perella’s amateur resume includes 4-time USA New England and 4-time New England Golden Gloves titles, but the now 29-year-old boxer seriously considered passing on a pro boxing career to become a lawyer.
“I was done with boxing,” Perella explained. “I felt like pursuing other things. The plan was to finish school, go to law school, and become a lawyer. Safety issues were the major issue. I was going into my adulthood and had questions about continuing fighting. An older guy at the gym told me that I wouldn’t want to have regrets in life and to go after what I really wanted. I didn’t want any what ifs. I had a few more amateur fights and decided to turn pro (March 16, 2019).”
How Perella got into boxing is another interesting story. A couple of his mates on the school bus messed with him as he played his Poke man game but, ironically, it was his mother who then said it was time for him to learn how to defend himself, not his father Jim, who is the longtime president of USA Boxing New England.
“My mother is from Southie (South Boston, a tough section of Boston),” Perella noted. “Kids fight to help find it (what it takes to box) in themselves. The first time in the gym, I got a bloody nose by one of the other kids the first time I was hit. I started crying and stopped fighting. My father took me in the bathroom to clean off the blood and he said it was okay. But I went right back into the ring, pinned that kid in the corner, and I was hooked on boxing after that. I was 8 years old.”
Perella showed his professionalism in his last scheduled fight, back in late September, when his scheduled opponent from Mexico never got on the plane. Instead of whining and complaining, after training for a few months only to find out the day before the fight that it wasn’t happening, Perella handled the situation like a seasoned pro.
“I woke up and found out,” Perella remembered. “I knew I could go two ways: get upset and stomp my feet or be professional. There was always a chance we could find somebody (as an opponent). I couldn’t get upset, I’m a professional. I knew I still had show up at the weigh in and make weight.
“I love what I do. OK, I had to show up at the weigh in and knew I’d be fighting again, and I am November 20th. We’re rolling forward. I’ve come back from injuries and there’s always tomorrow. I’ve moved on.”
The 6-foot Perella takes advantage of his height and reach advantages, an anomaly for the welterweight division. He stood only 5’ 5” at 18 when he graduated from high school. The doctor kept saying he wasn’t done growing and that he’d be 6-feet tall. Six months later while in college, “The Slim Reaper” grew seven inches and he started boxing in the 141-weight class instead of 123, learning how to effectively and comfortably box at a distance after his growth spurt instead of from mid-range.
Perella did graduate from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, majoring in criminal justice, but law’s loss has been boxing’s gain.
In the new main event, undefeated 23-year-old Albany (NY) lightweight RayJay “The Destroyer” Bermudez (14-0, 11 KOs), the reigning ABF American West and NBA Continental champion, returns to his second home at Moseley’s On The Charles again to take on the stiffest test of his young pro career, Columbian lightweight Rudolfo “El Tsunam” Puentes (20-8-2, 16 KOs), in a non-title fight.
Undefeated Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (8-0, 8 KOs) goes for his 9th win with his 9th KO in a 6-round Special Super Welterweight Attraction versus an opponent to be determined. Hogan, of Weymouth, MA, is the reigning New Hampshire super welterweight champion, as well as a 2019 New England Golden Gloves gold medalist.
In three 6-rounders, New Bedford (MA) middleweight Drew “Tomahawk” Dwelly (3-0-2, 3 KOs) faces Ginno Montoya (0-6), Springfield (MA) super lightweight super lightweight Eric “Gladiator” Goff (4-0, 3 KOs) meets Carlos Galindo (0-9), and Ghanian super welterweight .
Also scheduled to fight on the undercard, each in 4-round matches, are Malden (MA) super featherweight Alex Rivera (1-0, 1 KO) vs. TBA, Dorchester (MA) featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), a 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament champion, vs. Austin Reed Ward (0-9); Galway, Boston welterweight James Murrin (1-0) vs. TBA, and Kansas City (KS) super lightweight Marcus Davidson (1-0, 1 KO) vs. TBA.
Card is subject to change.
Tickets are on sale for $150.00 (ringside), $65.00 (general admission), $50.00 (standing room) and $2000.00 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets, go online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vertex-promotions-fall-brawl-tickets-192621806007, or contact any of the competing fighters. There may be limited tickets available fight night at the door.
Doors will open at 7 pm. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET .