I’ll defeat Perozzi again, insists undefeated Nelson

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Tori Nelson has vowed to take back what she feels is rightfully hers.

The American women’s middleweight boxer is scheduled to go toe-to-toe in a rematch with local southpaw Teresa Perozzi for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) world middleweight belt at Berkeley Institute Gym on Saturday night.

Nelson captured the WBC middleweight belt following her defeat of Lorissa Rivas in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in July 2011 but was forced to vacate her title the next year.

In her previous bout with Perozzi for the latter’s World Boxing Association (WBA) belt and vacant WBC crown at Fairmont Southampton last October the two women battled to a tame draw.

Nelson admits coming up empty-handed in the first encounter was a major disappointment but says she’s eager to regain the WBC belt.

“I want it bad because I feel like if I had the funds behind me and could’ve fought for it I wouldn’t lost it in the first place so it’s still mine and I just want it back,” she told The Royal Gazette.

Nelson, who boasts an unblemished professional record of 6-0-2, still feels that she won the first encounter with Perozzi that saw both women swap blows for ten bone-jarring rounds.

“I do still think I won but I’m not a judge so I have to respect what the judges say,” she said. “I was hurt and did all I could do not to cry in front of the camera because I just didn’t understand. But Craig (trainer/manager Craig Fladager) talked to me and told me I have to do more and really put your all into it because these people want this girl (Perozzi) to have this championship. She’s a champion, this is her country and they want her to have it, so you really have to put your all into it and not come at 50 percent. This time I’ve got to make it known to the judges to see that I won last time and I’m going to most definitely win this time.”

To date, the reigning WIBC champ has yet to lose a rematch with an opponent at any level.

“I always do better in my rematches,” Nelson declared. “I’ve had two rematches and I’ve won both.

“I do 100 percent better because I’ve gotten to see their style and this time you guys are really going to see it. You didn’t see everything last time and that’s the funny thing because I feel she gave her all, but I gave 60 percent.”

Nelson added: “Maybe I’ll come and do the same. You box a fighter and fight a boxer and that’s what threw her off last time because she wanted to box but I wanted to fight.

“I’ve made the adjustments so I’m going to do whatever is going to work and if I can throw her off and just fight her again I’d do that again. It’s just this time I’m going to have to be a little more busier so the judges can see that I beat her. I beat her the first time and I’m going to beat her again.”

Nelson is the top ranked women’s middleweight boxer in the United States and second in the world behind top ranked Christina Hammer of Germany.

Perozzi, whose pro records stands at 9-4-2, is currently ranked third in the world.

Following her WBC championship bout with Perozzi, Nelson, who is a big fan of late heavyweight champ Joe Frazier, will try and defend her Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) middleweight belt against challenger Maria Lindberg.

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