Perozzi wants to unify titles

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 4: One title down, one to go.

Teresa Perozzi is looking to add another belt to her collection.

She wants a WBC Middleweight title showdown with Tori Nelson.

Perozzi won the WBA Middleweight title last week in Tobago when she won a split decision over Lorissa Rivas.

By winning that bout, Perozzi also won the right to be the number one contender to challenge Nelson.

Perozzi said: “For the WBC it was an elimination bout so what it means is I’m first in line to fight Tori Nelson for that belt. I should be the next person to fight her.”

The newly minted WBA champ said the plan is to have a fight before then, possibly at Teacher’s Fight Night in March before taking on Nelson.

“I’d like to have a rematch with Lorissa Rivas, which I’m hoping to do here and then I’d like to unify the two belts here, hopefully in the summertime.”

The champ said the fight against Rivas may not come off as her opponent has sworn off boxing in the Middleweight division.

“It’s in my contract to have a rematch but her promoter told me she needs to drop down a weight class. I’m not surprised because I never thought she’d give me a rematch.”

Perozzi was offered a fight against Nelson but was already committed to the Rivas bout and couldn’t do both.

“The contract stipulated I couldn’t fight prior to February 11th so it didn’t work out.

Nelson beat Rivas for the vacant WBC middleweight title last year.

“The question now is how soon will she be willing to fight or do I find another opponent?

“They are hoping to have me on the Teacher’s Fight Night on March 10th and they are hoping to have me on that card. If I get the sponsorship and find an opponent, I’d love to do it — even if it’s not a title fight.

“Even if it’s for six rounds. I just want to stay in shape — I don’t want to stop. It’s been 14 months since I fought and I’m not going to let that happen this time.”

Amazing

She said the reaction to her big win has been “amazing” with people congratulating her on the street, Facebook and phoning her up.

“Someone called me up interested in doing a fundraising/sponsorship deal.”

Yesterday she also met with a local company who is thinking about signing up to sponsor her.

“I can’t even walk with all the congratulations. It’s been very, very positive.

“I’ve knocked on a lot of doors in the past but now people are seeing I’m not going away.”

Perozzi said people seem more willing to help out now she has one of the two major titles in tow.

She was very pleased Minister Zane DeSilva met her at the airport and she has held a brief discussion with the Sports Ministry about helping sponsor a fight here.

“They didn’t seem too stressed about it so it seems they are really willing to help out to bring the fight here rather than me going somewhere else.”