Carson's Peralta returns to action Friday
BY MIKE HOUSER
Appeal Sports Writer
The circumstances have changed since Mike Peralta last fought more than seven months ago. Back in July the 25-year-old Carson City lightweight was on a specific mission; now he is looking for a new direction for his young career.
On July 6, Peralta scored a two-round stoppage of Pernell Jackson in the outdoor parking lot of the Eldorado Hotel and Casino, the same location where just two months prior his cousin, Lewis Braxton III, took his own life by jumping off its multi-story parking garage.
It was an emotional win for Peralta, who improved his record to 2-2 with 1 knockout.
"It was a big fight," Peralta said Sunday at the new and larger Carson City Boxing Club, where he trains under his father, Francisco Peralta. "I had to do it for my family and cousin. I stayed focused and did what I had to do to go in and fight."
The performance impressed Terry Lane, who along with his brother Tommy run Let's Get It On Promotions, which is based in Reno and was founded by their father, former referee and Washoe County judge and district attorney, Mills Lane.
"He looked really great that day," said Terry Lane, who said he was initially concerned about the boxer's mental state following the tragedy. "He scored the knockout. I'm excited to have him back on the card."
The card to which Lane is referring is "The War for the West" show Let's Get It On is presenting Friday at the Grande Exposition Ballroom in the Silver Legacy Resort Casino.
Peralta will meet Oscar "Wonderboy" Marin in a four-rounder on the undercard of the six-fight show.
The card will be headlined by Yerington's Jesse Brinkley, 29-5 (20), who will meet Sacramento's Otis "Triple OG" Griffin, 18-2-2 (7), in a 12-round super middleweight bout for the WBC United States National Boxing Championship belt.
Against the 24-year-old Marin, 3-4, of Las Vegas via Culiacan, Mexico, Peralta is hoping to get off to what he hopes is a productive year after his long layoff. He said he had a couple of fights fall through during that period and that he is no longer working with his former high-powered manager, Jackie Kallen.
"Jackie has done nothing for me," Peralta said. "She told me I'd be going to Hollywood and training at her gym. I'm not talking bad about her, but I just don't understand how she can be a manager."
"She hasn't called. I haven't heard from her since our last fight in Reno," Francisco Peralta said of Kallen. "In my sight, for a [manager], she is not interested - bottom line. I'm not going to tell her how to do her job. She's just not interested."
So that means Mike has only one person he's going to rely on to guide his career.
"Now I'm putting 110 percent more into listening to my dad," Mike said. "I'm not going to listen to anyone else."
For his part, Francisco, who has trained Mike for all of his 77 amateur and four professional fights, is looking to make some inroads with the right people in order to further his son's career.
"It's a process to start knowing people - matchmakers, promoters," he said. "Terry and Tommy sound pretty honest. They talk to me in a respectful way, with me being in boxing since 1991 and working with kids."
Terry Lane said he liked that Peralta was already prepared and in shape when he called him on short notice for this fight.
"He is one of the local fighters who comes to fight and who is always ready to go," Lane said. "We're looking to match some local Northern Nevada and Northern California fighters on the same card and build a fan base. Mike is one of those guys who have dedication to the sport. He's in shape and ready to go. We definitely want to work with him in the future."
For Peralta, the future starts Friday with Marin, who last fought Sept. 21, when he dropped a six-round split decision to Kermit Gonzalez at the Grand Sierra Resort.
"I saw that Oscar is a fighter," said Mike, who went to the card. "It's going to be a good fight - a good fight for the fans. [Marin] didn't run. He was put down in the first round, but he got back up and kept fighting. He's a strong fighter. I knew I'd like to fight him.
"I want to give my fans and people who like me - and those that don't - a good show. I'm not playing. It's going to be a strong fight for both of us."
Mike, a mechanic at Tires Plus, said he's stayed in shape during the layoff and has remained spiritually grounded under the guidance of Pastor Steve Storey at Father's Heart Church.
"For years he's always supported me," Mike said of the pastor. "I thank God. I'm still right here."
In the six-round co-main event, Glenn "The Filipino Bomber" Donaire, 16-3-1 (9), will meet Jose Albuquerque, 8-2-2 (2), in a rematch. The pair fought to a majority draw in 2006.
The 28-year-old Donaire last fought on Oct. 7, 2006, when he was stopped in sixth round by then IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan.
Also on the card are McDermitt's Derek and Tyler Hinkey. Derek, 4-0 (4), will meet Cromwell Gordon, 4-8 (4), in a middleweight bout, and Tyler, 1-0-1 (1), will take on Travis Biechler, 2-5 (2), in a heavyweight contest. Both fights are scheduled for four rounds.
Tickets are $150, $75 and $30 and are available at the Silver Legacy box office, by calling (800) 687-8733 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
Doors open at 6 p.m. The first bout begins at 7.
• Contact Mike Houser at mhouser@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1220.