Julian Rodriguez dominates James Perella, wins decision on Zuffa 6 card
Hasbrouck Heights’ Julian “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez won his fifth straight on Sunday, dominating the previously unbeaten James “The Slim Reaper” Perella over ten rounds to a unanimous decision victory at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
Rodriguez won by scores of 100-89 and 98-91 twice, improving to 26-1 (15 KOs) with his third straight win over an undefeated opponent. Perella, a 6-foot-2 welterweight from Mansfield, Massachusetts, suffered the first loss of his career and fell to 21-1 (15 KOs).
The 31-year-old Rodriguez, a Hasbrouck Heights resident and former standout amateur, controlled the fight from the outset with relentless pressure and sharp body punching against the taller and more cautious Perella, who held a six-inch height advantage.
Rodriguez scored the fight’s lone knockdown in the third round, flooring Perella with a left hook that visibly rocked the Massachusetts fighter. Rodriguez continued to break Perella down with right hands and hooks to the body, using the downstairs attack to create openings upstairs.
By the fifth round, referee Robert Hoyle warned Perella to “show me something” as Rodriguez unloaded along the ropes while Perella offered little in return. According to punch stats, Perella landed just 22 punches in the entire fight, connecting on only seven percent of his attempts.
Despite being unable to secure the stoppage, Rodriguez left no doubt on the scorecards.
“They put me in there with a fucking giant today, but I wanted to win the fight clean,” Rodriguez told Max Kellerman afterward. “He was heavier than me. I felt his punches, and it’s just a learning experience. Zuffa is doing a great job, man. They’re putting these fights in front of me where I’m really learning and progressing. This is my third undefeated guy I just beat. My confidence is growing. My skills are growing.”
Perella, who had fought nondescript opposition in the New England area, was given credit for winning the third and eighth rounds on two scorecards.
Rodriguez admitted his corner grew frustrated with him for not finishing the fight despite repeatedly hurting Perella.
“My corner was getting mad at me,” Rodriguez said. “They were holding the belt like Joe Jackson waiting for me to get to the corner to whip me for not stopping this guy. It is what it is, a learning experience. I could have closed the show.”
Rodriguez has found new momentum since signing with the UFC-owned Zuffa Boxing banner. After spending much of his professional career under the Top Rank umbrella, Rodriguez has strung together the most impressive run of his career, including a breakout win over Cain Sandoval in his Zuffa debut in January and a tenth-round knockout of previously unbeaten Avious Griffin last June.