Darleys Pérez


Darleys Gregorio Pérez Ballesta is a Colombian professional boxer who held the WBA lightweight title in 2015. As an amateur he represented Colombia at the 2008 Summer Olympics as a lightweight.

Amateur career

At the South American Games 2006 he won the gold medal vs Éverton Lopes. At the PanAm Games 2007 he lost at a qualifier and the quarterfinals of the main event to world champion Yordenis Ugás in a tight contest.
At the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships he upset heavy favourite Olexandr Klyuchko and knocked out two successive opponents but lost to Kim Song Guk from North Korea in the final. He clinched a berth at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, narrowly losing to eventual gold medallist Aleksei Tishchenko at the quarter-finals stage. He turned professional in 2009 following his Olympic campaign, with an impressive amateur record of 82 wins and 7 losses.

Professional career

Darleys Pérez turned professional in 2009, where he competes in the lightweight division. Following a string of knockout victories over domestic Colombian fighters, Pérez debuted in America where he defeated a number of lightweight contenders to earn a shot at the WBA Interim Lightweight title against former super-featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, also undefeated. In an uninspired yet close contest, Gamboa edged the Colombian over the distance to hand Pérez his first loss in 28 fights. However, Pérez fought for the WBA Interim Lightweight title once again two fights later and won the belt with a decisive points victory over Argenis Lopez, before being promoted to WBA Lightweight champion due to Richar Abril being stripped of his title in 2015. Pérez' first defence of the WBA belt came against tough underdog Anthony Crolla in Manchester, where Crolla sought to win the world title following a life-threatening injury sustained in an incursion with burglars the previous Christmas. In a competitive yet controversial bout, many thought Crolla had done enough to secure a decision victory but Pérez was fortunate to come away from Manchester with a draw on the cards. A rematch subsequently followed in Manchester, during which Crolla upset Pérez by knocking him out with a crisp body punch in the 5th round, taking the Colombian's WBA belt in the process. Pérez followed up the second loss of his career with a knockout win over domestic rival Ubadel Soto in Colombia to take his record to 33 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
43LossJuan NarvaezRTD8 Feb 17, 2024Club La Pradera, Carmen de Apicala, Colombia
42Loss34–6–2Brayan SantanderUD8Jan 20, 2024Restaurante Bar Don Juan, Carmen de Apicala, Colombia
41Loss34–5–2Shakhram GiyasovKO1, 0:41Aug 24, 2019Centro de Usos Multiples, Hermosillo, Mexico
40Win34–4–2Felipe LaresKO7, 1:02Nov 22, 2018Hilton Hotel, Cartagena, Colombia
39Loss33–4–2Maxim DadashevTKO10, 1:49Jun 9, 2018MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
38Loss33–3–2Luke CampbellTKO9, 1:28Apr 29, 2017Wembley Stadium, London, England, U.K.
37Draw33–2–2Maurice HookerSD10Nov 19, 2016T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For NABO light welterweight title
36Win33–2–1Ubadel SotoKO2 May 20, 2016Coliseo Municipal, Caucasia, Colombia
35Loss32–2–1Anthony CrollaKO5, 2:30Nov 21, 2015Manchester Arena, Manchester, England, U.K.Lost WBA lightweight title
34Draw32–1–1Anthony CrollaMD12Jul 18, 2015Manchester Arena, Manchester, England, U.K.Retained WBA lightweight title
33Win32–1Jonathan MaiceloUD12Jan 9, 2015Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S.Retained WBA interim lightweight title
32Win31–1Jaider ParraKO6, 1:29Oct 24, 2014Coliseo Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, ColombiaRetained WBA interim lightweight title
31Win30–1Argenis LopezUD12Jun 28, 2014Sheraton Hotel, Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicWon vacant WBA interim lightweight title
30Win29–1Dunis LinanUD8Dec 6, 2013Coliseo Elias Chegwin, Barranquilla, Colombia
29Loss28–1Yuriorkis GamboaUD12Jun 8, 2013Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaFor vacant WBA interim lightweight title
28Win28–0Julio CamanoUD8Mar 9, 2013Coliseo Mario de León, Cerete, Colombia
27Win27–0Kelly FigueroaUD8Nov 30, 2012Hotel Prado Mar, Puerto Colombia, Colombia
26Win26–0Bahodir MamadjonovSD10Aug 10, 2012Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, U.S.
25Win25–0Alain HernandezKO2, 2:59Apr 6, 2012DoubleTree Hotel, Ontario, California, U.S.
24Win24–0Fernando TrejoUD8Dec 2, 2011Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S.
23Win23–0Oscar MezaRTD6, 3:00Sep 30, 2011Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S.
22Win22–0Baudel CardenasKO1, 1:08Jul 22, 2011DoubleTree Hotel, Ontario, California, U.S.
21Win21–0Wilson AlcorroTKO7, 1:33Jun 24, 2011Coliseo Elias Chegwin, Barranquilla, Colombia
20Win20–0Jose ReyesUD8Apr 29, 2011Civic Center, Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
19Win19–0Alejandro HerediaUD10Feb 5, 2011Coliseo Bernardo Caraballo, Cartagena, Colombia
18Win18–0Ramesis GilTKO4, 2:14Dec 10, 2010Civic Center, Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
17Win17–0Ernesto Vasquez BatiojaTKO1, 2:38Oct 30, 2010Centro de Convenciones, Cartagena, Colombia
16Win16–0Edixon GarciaUD10Oct 1, 2010Coliseo Municipal, Puerto Colombia, Colombia
15Win15–0Erwin RomeroKO2, 1:37Jun 25, 2010Estadio de Softbol, Puerto Colombia, Colombia
14Win14–0Pascual SalgadoTKO5 Mar 5, 2010Estadio de Softbol, Puerto Colombia, Colombia
13Win13–0Edinson TeheranUD8Feb 12, 2010Campito de Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia
12Win12–0Edwin OrtizKO1, 1:06Dec 17, 2009Coliseo Bernardo Caraballo, Cartagena, Colombia
11Win11–0Patricio Antonio PedreroTKO1, 1:55Nov 19, 2009La Macarena, Medellin, ColombiaWon vacant WBA Fedelatin lightweight title
10Win10–0Jose MirandaTKO2, 1:38Oct 23, 2009Hotel Pradomar, Barranquilla, Colombia
9Win9–0Evaristo TordecillaTKO1, 1:58Sep 12, 2009San Pedro de Uraba, Colombia
8Win8–0Reynaldo EsquiviaTKO1, 1:33Aug 21, 2009Centro Recreacional Las Vegas, Barranquilla, Colombia
7Win7–0Dunis LinanUD6Jun 20, 2009Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia
6Win6–0Samir TorresTKO4, 1:04May 29, 2009Centro Recreacional Las Vegas, Barranquilla, Colombia
5Win5–0Devinson GuerraTKO4, 1:40May 15, 2009Hotel Prado Mar, Puerto Colombia, Colombia
4Win4–0Luis DiazKO1, 2:54Apr 3, 2009Centro Recreacional Las Vegas, Barranquilla, Colombia
3Win3–0Daniel MercadoKO2, 2:45Mar 20, 2009Centro Recreacional Las Vegas, Barranquilla, Colombia
2Win2–0Miguel PachecoKO2 Mar 6, 2009Centro Recreacional Las Vegas, Barranquilla, Colombia
1Win1–0Edwin OrtizKO2, 2:17Feb 14, 2009Puerto Colombia, Colombia