"Panterita" wins title with 6th round TKO

INDIO, Calif. — Weslaco lightweight Omar "Panterita" Figueroa defeated Michael “Mikey” Perez by a sixth-round TKO in their scheduled 10-round WBO intercontinental lightweight title fight late Friday night.

Figueroa’s father, Omar Figuera Sr., said his son punished Perez throughout the fight with blows to the body. Perez refused to answer the bell to start the sixth round.

“He executed (the game plan) perfectly,” Figueroa Sr. said. “The guy was dancing. He was flashy. But the body striking was just awesome. The guy gave up.”

The victory moves Figueroa to 14-0-1 with 11 knockouts. Figueroa Sr. said his son, who fights for Golden Boy Promotions, will take a break after this fight then await word from Oscar De La Hoya’s camp for his next bout.

“Right now he deserves a big break and then we’ll see what Golden Boy has for us,” Figueroa Sr. said. “Right now, he’s going to enjoy this belt.”