“PERRO” Has a Lot to Celebrate These Days
This Christmas will be a much brighter one for Alfredo “Perro” Angulo.
A year ago at this time, the Mexican slugger (22-2, 18 KOs) was going through immigration issues that culminated in a stay at a detention center beginning in January 2012 while his team of attorneys worked diligently to sort out the 
political mess. But that was then; this is now. After his release in August, the warrior has been training with new coach Virgil Hunter and has scored two back to back wins in November and December in a span of just 35 days.
This year has really been a watershed one for the Olympic boxer and former WBC and WBO titlist. Now “Perro” looks ahead to the future, staying busy in the ring–and outside the ropes–while continuing to raise his 7-year-old daughter, Rebeca, a lookalike “Mini Me” of Angulo.
I visited with Alfredo, Rebeca and Lucy Haro at a special holiday luncheon held yesterday in Southern California. The L.A.-based Angulo, known for his fierceness as a fighter, was all smiles at the party. He doesn’t dodge the memories of his internment at El Centro; it’s only made him stronger. And it’s also made him want to reach out to help others. One obvious change he’s made toward that is in growing out his hair. When he was first released this past summer, his fans wondered what was up with the bushy beard and that full head of hair grown “Caveman” style?
As we all know now, it’s all for a good cause.
“It’s for ‘Locks of Love,'” the boxer confirms. “I want to donate it so they can make wigs for kids who need it.” Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that helps disadvantage youth who are suffering illnesses.
“How long are you going to grow it before you cut it?” I ask.
He laughs. “I think three more months,” he says. “I will cut it in the spring.”
Lucy, an attorney and an MVP of Team Perro, says the minimum length needed for the donation is 10 inches. “But he wants to try and donate 12 inches of hair,” the pretty brunette tells me.
Angulo has also had a busy few months working up north with the well-regarded Virgil Hunter, who also trains Andre Ward, Amir Khan, among others.
The Mexicali pug says he doesn’t know the exact date of when his next fight will be, but the team plans to stay busy in the coming new year.
After his November 2011 defeat to James Kirkland and the detention center lock-up, “Perro” quickly rebounded with a 56-second knockout of Raul Casarez in the opening round of their November 10 bout. On Saturday at the L.A. Sports Arena, the Golden Boy Promotions star next took on Jorge “Pantera” Silva, an upstart 20-year-old coming up in weight. The battle was a crowd pleasing one with back and forth brutal exchanges by both. But Angulo, proving he was top dog in their war, finished strong with a vicious barrage unleashed against his scrappy foe, trained by Erik Morales’ father, Jose Morales. When the announcement came, it was a unanimous decision (97-93) for “Perro.”
While many were expecting an early knockout for the heavy-handed Angulo, Silva survived and hit back to go the distance.
But Angulo looks on the positive side. “You know after my stay in the detention center, I got a quick knockout,” the switch hitter told me (about his Casarez bout). “So in this fight, it was good to get work in, good to get more rounds.” The shrapnel of this “Fight of the Night” clash remained three days later as I saw a small bruise under the left eye of the former champion.
With the November 10 and December 15 victories in the books, the puncher will now take a break for the holidays and enjoy some well-deserved quality time with his daughter, family and friends.
And he will still stay in shape, keeping in the 154 zone, a fact he is proud of. While chatting with the heavy hitter, I asked if he plans on staying in the junior middleweight range in the future?
“Yes, that division is good for me!” he replies with a nod. “You know I started at that weight and I’m still fighting at that weight. My debut against Tomas Padron was back in 2004 and I’m still fighting at that same weight.”
Angulo eschews alcohol and watches his diet, only breaking it to celebrate his daughter’s December 3 birthday with a piece of cake.
And speaking of his little girl, the cute 7-year-old is clearly the apple of his eye. The doting dad is very proud of Rebeca, whom he says is excelling in her school studies, knows both English and Spanish and recently performed in a ballet recital.
He thrives on being able to once again be with his daughter, after suffering his seven-month term in El Centro.
But his high profile as a popular prizefighter is still intact, evident in the reaction of the waiters and waitresses at the fiesta, who quickly took notice they had a boxing star in their restaurant.
“PERRO! PERRO!” they all shouted as Angulo took his seat. Posing for photos with the wait staff and other restaurant patrons who spotted him, he was all smiles. Known for his serious “dog-like” demeanor, this version (after his horrible experience at the detention center) smiles often now–outside of the ring.
But in the squared circle, he remains all business. Alfredo assures me that he will be back next year still strong and fierce, wanting to prove he’s the “El Perro” his fans and followers have come to love.
And just who’s next for the fighter?
“Do you want to fight Canelo? Miguel Cotto?” I ask. “Who do you want next?”
“ANYONE! Canelo, Cotto, I will fight anyone,” he answers. “Anyone!”
After the holidays and with the start of 2013, Alfredo “Perro” Angulo plans on punching and clawing his way back toward the top echelon in the ranks.
But first, there’s the holidays to enjoy with his family and friends. As I pass out jingle bell bracelets to the guests at the gathering, Angulo says with a mischievous grin, “I already have a bracelet!” He laughs and pulls back his sleeve to reveal his thick diamond-encrusted “El Perro” bling. But he did don a Santa cap to wish everyone a very merry holiday.
In these EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS, check out “Perro” offering his best Christmas cheer.
“I want to tell all my fans ‘Feliz Navidad’ and Merry Christmas,” he says. “And THANK YOU for all their support!”
Photos by Michele Chong