"Savage's" salvaged career
Arrellin fights Perez for Latino belt in Colorado

Story by Gerardo Martinez
Photos by Jose Leon Castillo

Randy "Savage" Arrellin gets somewhat melancholic when asked about how he's not only salvaged his career, but will now be fighting for his first title.

On Saturday night, Arrellin, 8-3, 4 KOs, will be fighting for the WBC Latino Light Welterweight title in Sheridan, Colorado against Manny Perez, 15-6-1, 3 KOs.

It's been a long, short road for the two-year pro.

Arrellin remembers the backyard brawls he used to get into with his friends in Albuquerque's South Valley, putting on gloves and going at it until someone's nose bled. He also clearly remembers when his current coach Bernie Sanchez visited him at his uncle's house who lived just down the street and invited him to train at the T.U.F.F. gym about eight years ago.

"He came by and asked me if I was interested in boxing," Arrellin recalls. "I told him I was, and he told me to come back Monday at 5:30 p.m."

Ever since then it has become a ritual for the 20 year-old brawler - and he has come along way since his backyard brawling days. After building up an 80-fight amateur record, including several regional titles, Arrellin went pro against Raymond "Hollywood" Montes a couple months after turning 18.

"That was a total fluke" says Bernie Sanchez about the Montes fight that saw Arrelin KO'd in the first round.

Since the fight, Arrellin, for the most part, has been racking up, both, wins and experience. And since that KO loss to 'Hollywood,' Arrellin has been wanting to avenge it, but says Montes is less than willing to rematch the new and improved version of "Savage."

Two years ago, a rematch was close to happening, but Arrellin was forced to pull out when his brother Timothy passed away. He's moved on since then and is currently on a four fight win streak, but still has a rematch with Montes on his mind.

On Saturday though, he'll have an experienced Manny Perez in front of him at Red and Jerry's in Sheridan, Colorado. Perez, at 26 years of age, has fought some top opposition, most noticeably newly-crowned champ Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios, whom he lost to twice.

"Perez is a mover and a boxer," says trainer Sanchez. "But if it becomes a slugfest, Randy will put him away."

"I just wanna go out there and do my best," says Arrellin. "If a lucky punch lands, it lands."

Whether that lucky punch comes, or if he has to settle for a decision win, Arrellin says he's dedicating the fight and win to his brother Timothy.

In preparation for the fight he has been sparring with "Mad" Mike Alderete, Alan "El Alacran" Sanchez and Fidel "Atrisco Kid" Maldonado.

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