Angel “Sharpie” Perez triumphed over Wesley “El Bongocero” Ferrer by unanimous decision on November 13, 2026, at Red Owl Boxing’s “Boxfest XXII” in Philadelphia. This eight-round super lightweight contest served as the co-main event for the promotion’s debut at the historic 2300 Arena.
While some reports initially suggested a welterweight championship, the bout saw Perez extend his undefeated professional record to 12-0-1 (8 KOs), with Ferrer’s record moving to 18-3-1 (8 KOs).
Wesley Ferrer fights at Red Owl Boxing’s Boxfest XXII
The overall event, streamed live on DAZN, showcased a nine-bout card, establishing Red Owl Boxing as a notable new player in the East Coast boxing landscape. Perez’s victory was a hard-fought affair, marked by tactical exchanges and moments of intense pressure from both fighters. Judges’ scores of 79-72, 78-73, and 77-74 all favored Perez after a competitive night.
Red Owl Boxing made its initial foray into the competitive Philadelphia market with “Boxfest XXII,” held on November 13, 2026, at the 2300 Arena. This event signaled the promoter’s intent to expand its reach and establish a presence in one of boxing’s most storied cities, featuring a compelling main event.
The night’s headliner was a 10-round middleweight championship clash for the NBA Americas 160-pound title, featuring undefeated Erron “Junkyard Dog” Peterson (15-0-1, 14 KO’s) against Miguel Angel Hernandez (9-1-1, 7 KO’s). This championship encounter solidified the billing of Boxfest XXII as a significant event, with the Angel Perez bout serving as the co-main attraction. Championship bouts often draw significant attention from fans and media alike.
The company, founded in 2021 by Canadian entrepreneur Gabriel Fanous, has a stated mission to “revive boxing’s middle class” by consistently featuring emerging talents and contenders.
With state-of-the-art facilities in Houston, Texas, and Brampton, Canada, Red Owl Boxing uses its “Boxfest” series, now on its 22nd iteration, to highlight promising fighters and deliver live-streamed content through its partnership with DAZN.
Gabriel Fanous, along with his business partner Sam Ibrahim, has deep roots in community sports, drawing inspiration from Ibrahim’s basketball programs before venturing into professional boxing.
Angel Perez’s super lightweight challenge
Perez, fighting out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, brought an impressive 11-0-1 record into the co-main event bout against Brooklyn’s Ferrer. The 24-year-old orthodox fighter, standing 5’8” with a 69” reach, has been a dedicated boxer since age 11, accumulating 80 amateur fights and securing multiple national championships.
His consistent amateur success laid a strong foundation for his professional career, which began on June 11, 2021. This victory over Ferrer on November 13, 2026, further enhanced his professional standing.
The fight began with Perez establishing his dominance early, landing a straight right hand against the southpaw Ferrer in the first round. He skillfully used his footwork to control the distance and dictate the pace of engagement. However, the contest was not without its rough patches.
Referee Harvey Dock issued warnings to both fighters for roughhouse tactics in the third round. By the fifth, Dock had deducted a point from Perez, indicating the intensity and physicality of the contest.
A challenging moment for Perez arrived in the sixth round when a severe cut opened over his left eye. This allowed Ferrer to capitalize, delivering some of his most effective offense during the sixth and seventh rounds.
But Perez, demonstrating resilience, rallied strongly in the eighth, relying on his jab to maintain control and see out the unanimous decision victory. Despite the back-and-forth action, there were no knockdowns recorded in the bout, reflecting the competitive nature of the fight.
Undercard showcases rising talent
Beyond the main and co-main events, “Boxfest XXII” featured a series of compelling matchups that highlighted a mix of burgeoning prospects and seasoned fighters.
The card saw Pennsylvania’s Cornellio “Chada Time” Phipps extend his unbeaten record to 9-0 (2 KOs) with a unanimous decision victory over Stevie “Torrito” Sital (7-3, 5 KOs) in a six-round super bantamweight contest.
Phipps, supported by a vocal home crowd, navigated a tactical fight, adapting to Sital’s brief southpaw switch in the third round to land a crucial straight right hand. He effectively timed Sital in the later rounds, slipping punches and landing counters.
Another notable performance came from Santiago “Son of Thunder” Vazquez (5-0, 3 KOs), who defeated two-time Olympian Patrick Baddo Chinyemba (0-1) in Chinyemba’s professional debut. Vazquez, a super bantamweight from Poteet, Texas, quickly made an impact, dropping Chinyemba twice in their six-round bantamweight bout – once in the first and again in the third round.
Chinyemba, a highly decorated amateur from Zambia with a bronze medal from the 2022 Commonwealth Games and a gold from the 2023 African Games, showed incredible heart to recover and keep the fight lively. Vazquez, a former national-level amateur himself, continued to press the action, landing left hooks until the final bell.
In a cruiserweight clash, Rishon “Humblebeast” Sims (3-0, 2 KOs) of Reading, Pennsylvania, secured a stoppage victory over Elijah “War Chief” Akana (2-2, 1 KO) of Honolulu, Hawaii. Sims, an amateur standout and a 2023 USA Boxing National Champion, hurt Akana in the third round and dropped him with a flurry of punches.
Though Akana beat the count, referee Harvey Dock intervened at 2:23 of the third to halt the contest. Another exciting debut came from Obed “Radar” Bartee El (1-0, 1 KO), a light heavyweight prospect, who stopped Henock Muamba (0-1-2) in a scheduled four-round super middleweight bout.
Bartee El, a former national amateur competitor, utilized his height and reach effectively, dropping Muamba in the third before referee David Braslow stopped the fight at 2:53 of the round.
The streaming era: DAZN’s vital role in boxing
The decision to stream “Boxfest XXII” live on DAZN underscores the critical role that streaming platforms now play in bringing boxing to a global audience. Launched in August 2016, DAZN has become synonymous with combat sports, often dubbed the “Netflix of sport” due to its extensive exclusive rights to numerous boxing events worldwide.
Its availability in over 200 countries ensures that events like Red Owl Boxing’s Philadelphia debut reach a broad base of fight fans.
DAZN offers various subscription tiers, providing access to a vast catalog of live and on-demand fights, with over 185 bouts per year from different promoters. This model allows promotions like Red Owl Boxing to gain significant exposure, particularly for developing talent.
The accessibility of DAZN across devices, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, and mobile devices, has democratized fight viewership, moving beyond traditional pay-per-view models and offering a more consistent viewing experience for enthusiasts. This partnership is crucial for Red Owl Boxing’s strategy of building its stable of fighters and expanding its fan base.
The main card, featuring both the Erron Peterson title fight and the Angel Perez co-main event, was available to DAZN subscribers, while preliminary bouts were streamed on Red Owl Boxing’s YouTube channel, demonstrating a multi-platform approach to content distribution. This strategy allows for maximum reach, engaging both dedicated subscribers and casual viewers.
The investment from streaming services provides essential funding and visibility that can elevate promotions and fighters, especially those operating outside the top tier of championship boxing. David Benavidez also found early career success on similar platforms.
What’s next for Angel Perez and Red Owl Boxing?
With his recent victory, Angel Perez faces a future filled with new opportunities and increased scrutiny. The win over Wesley Ferrer, especially given the tough moments in the fight, demonstrated Perez’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure. This performance could serve as a stepping stone to bigger fights and potentially more prominent championships within the super lightweight division.
For Red Owl Boxing, the successful Philadelphia debut on November 13, 2026, reinforces its strategy of promoting high-quality, competitive bouts featuring up-and-coming talent. The event not only showcased a compelling middleweight title fight but also provided a platform for several other fighters to exhibit their skills, including impressive performances from Cornellio Phipps and Santiago Vazquez.
The promotion’s commitment to growing its stable of fighters and delivering engaging content through DAZN appears to be a viable path for long-term success.
Greg Bloom, CEO of Red Owl Boxing, has previously expressed the company’s dedication to testing its prospects against genuine opposition, a philosophy clearly reflected in the “Boxfest XXII” card. The challenges presented by experienced fighters like Wesley Ferrer and the Olympic-level talent of Patrick Baddo Chinyemba underscore the promoter’s commitment to competitive matchups.
As Red Owl Boxing continues to stage events and cultivate its fighters, the boxing world will be watching to see how its rising stars, including Angel Perez, navigate their careers.
The landscape of boxing is ever-evolving, and promotions that prioritize both fighter development and fan engagement, like Red Owl Boxing, are poised to make a lasting impact. Champions like Canelo Alvarez have built their careers by consistently winning and defending titles, a path that aspiring fighters must follow.
