Catching Up With Alfredo Angulo

“Perro” will be fighting this November

Alfredo “Perro” Angulo continues on a path to prove he’s “top dog” in the ring. This fall he will be facing Harry Joe Yorgey in Hartford, Connecticut.

Angulo has beaten the likes of Andrey Tsurkan, Cosme Rivera, Richard Gutierrez, and Danny “Zee” Stanislavjevic and now hopes to get a nod over the unbeaten Yorgey. The two will meet on November 7 at the XL Center in Connecticut as an undercard of HBO’s Chad Dawson-Glen Johnson rematch. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, in association with DiBella Entertainment and Seminole Warriors Boxing, tickets for the fight go on sale this Friday, September 18.

The former Mexican Olympian and I caught up this past weekend at Ken Thompson’s “Locked ‘N Loaded” boxing show at the Doubletree in Ontario, California.

The slugger is humble and is not underestimating his future opponent.

“He’s a good fighter; he throws a lot of punches. He throws a bunch,” “El Perro” tells me about Yorgey. “And reto, reto…He’s got a good straight punch.”

The sluggers are scheduled to go ten rounds. I mention to Angulo that his foe knocked out Ronald Hearns in his last fight in March. “Yes!” Alfredo exclaims, nodding. “I watched the video. I’ve been watching him; I like watching his fights.”

And he really is giving Yorgey his due respect, not assuming he’ll walk all over his opponent. “He’s undefeated at 22 and 0,” explains Angulo.

The junior middleweight (16-1, 13 KOs), who trains with Clemente Medina out of the Maywood gym, rode a fast ascent in the boxing rankings with his aggressive, come-forward style of fighting. He had a perfect record until he met Kermit Cintron last May. Angulo tasted his first defeat as a pro when the unanimous decision for Cintron was announced. Angulo’s camp say the boxer was ill right before the fight; his harshest critics say it was a little too much, too soon.

But the top prospect has earned his nickname of “Perro”-now coming back tougher than ever. His last bout in August was a convincing win over Gabriel Rosado by a TKO in the second of ten scheduled rounds. True to his loyal and ferocious fans, Angulo wore his trademark dog collar in the ring while bringing in a live canine for the ring entrance.

And during our chat, I learn the Mexicali-born warrior also has a couple of soft spots.

Some mutual friends were part of Angulo’s victory party after the Rosado win and I asked him about that recent celebration. The 27-year-old abstains from alcohol, so the place his camp chose to party was at a famous ice cream parlor on the Vegas strip. When I mention his celebratory ice cream sundae, “Perro” breaks into a grin and begins to laugh. Alfredo usually has a serious game face going on; when he chuckles it catches you by surprise. You expect him to growl instead of giggle. Who knew the unleashed “Perro” would choose a sweet, frozen treat over a bottle of champagne?

The fighter also has a soft spot for the little ones. A father himself of daughter, Rebeca, Angulo took time to visit with heavyweight boxer Chris Arreola and his cute, young daughter Danae. He spoke to the little girl and her dad for a while, joking with the 7-year-old as she burst into giggles. Throughout the night, he was great with all kids who approached him during the show.

While chatting with Angulo, our friend, boxing photographer Marlene Marquez, passes by and stops to say hello. As the two pose for a quick pic, I tell Marlene she has a “pedigreed” birthday as both she and “Perro” share August 11th birth date!

A frequent fixture at high-profile fight nights and a local fan favorite, Angulo made sure to attend this sold-out event promoted by Thompson Boxing Promotions. He was there to cheer on his stablemate Jesus “Pollo” Hernandez in his rematch against Aaron Garcia.

As the undefeated Hernandez stepped inside the ropes to face Garcia (their first bout was declared a draw), Alfredo and his Maywood buddies gave their vigorous support to the young boxer. “Derecha, derecha!” they would shout trying to time Hernandez’ right fist for maximum results against Garcia. It was a close match. And after an exciting six rounds and the packed crowd cheering, the Hernandez-Garcia match was once again awarded a draw.

I turn to get Alfredo’s reaction and he shrugs, like “That’s boxing…” Angulo is always one of the crowd faves at boxing events and the polite fighter posed with plenty of fans during the night. Although a fierce combatant on the canvas, he has a calm demeanor outside of the ropes and is very well-mannered.

From making sure to greet promoter Ken Thompson with a hand shake to later coming up and personally saying goodbye to everyone and anyone near his row, this “Perro” is no mutt. He remains humble, realistic and determined as he continues to dig toward his goals.

Watch for him in his upcoming November battle as “Perro” proves his status as alpha dog!

Photos by Michele Chong: Alfredo Angulo with Chris and Danae Arreola, “Perro” and Marlene Marquez