Mike Perry ‘honored’ to have Yoel Romero ‘leading the way’ for Dirty Boxing
Mike Perry has helped build quite the roster for his Dirty Boxing fight promotion, which includes longtime UFC veteran Yoel Romero leading the charge.
The first official unveiling of the Dirty Boxing brand is set for this Saturday with DBX 1 at The Hangar at Regatta Harbour in Miami. The event streams for free on YouTube, Twitch, Kick, and all of Dirty Boxing’s social media platforms. The main event features Romero facing Bellator veteran Ras Hylton in a heavyweight tilt.
Romero headlined the promotion’s VIP event in November — sort of a soft opening for Dirty Boxing — where “Soldier of God” obliterated Power Slap veteran Duane Crespo with a first-round knockout. Perry believes Romero and Dirty Boxing are he perfect match.
“Yoel is a special character with the Dirty Boxing,” Perry told MMA Fighting. “Yoel was An Olympic medalist. People who have performed at that level... I’ve gotten to hang out with Yoel in the Middle East and t was very motivating as far as, I mean, the guy’s been around the world and he’s hung out with politicians and the highest level of people that you can be around that you would think are sophisticated in class, and it made me have to level up in order to be around him and be more professional.
“That’s where you get the big deals and the big money, and I’m very happy that Yoel is the one leading the way for Dirty Boxing.”
Romero is also currently signed with the new GFL organization, although they have yet to announce an official date for their first card. The 47-year-old is staying busy with the custom rules combat that is Dirty Boxing, and Perry sees Romero as an integral piece of what the team is trying to build.
“He’s such a talented athlete,” Perry explained. “At his age to be performing the way he is, I mean, he was so calm and collected in the last fight for us. I know a lot will say, ‘It was a Power Slap guy.’ That was a big heavy guy who knows how to hit hard, and if he hits you... he couldn’t even touch Yoel.
“Yoel took his time, he moved around, he, he dodged some punches, and then he lands one shot to end the night. Like that is true talent in mixed martial arts, and in combat. So, I’m very honored to be this close with Yoel, and be building this Dirty Boxing promotion with him, and the rest of the team that we have involved.”
For Perry, he’s been part of the fighting world for well over a decade — which includes his 15-fight run in the UFC, becoming the current face of BKFC, to even getting a boxing match with Jake Paul this past summer.
“Platinum” has experienced all of the emotions of fight week as a competitor, but now, he gets to see it all as a promoter, which has similar, yet different feelings behind it.
“Oh man, there’s nerves here, too,” Perry said. There’s lots of thoughts of all the powerful people that have worked, behind closed doors, on this event that’s coming up on Saturday, that will be live streamed on YouTube, for free, for all the fans watching at home, make sure y’all tune in because we just wanna give you a great show.
“We put in a lot of effort and there’s still questions up in the air as far as our turnout. We’re giving a great show, so we hope that you know that everyone who is there in attendance will love what they see and what they are a part of, and we just want to share it with more people. We’re going to have a great time and we’re going to make the most of it. Dirty Boxing, this Saturday, baby. March 22nd, let’s go.”