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Perozzi confident of retaining WBA crown

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Teresa Perozzi and April Ward (right) at yesterday's weigh-in. Perozzi will defend her WBA world middleweight title tonight at the Berkeley Institute. Photo Mark Tatem.

Teresa Perozzi isn’t fazed by April Ward’s height and reach advantages.Nor is she is bothered that her American rival is nearly three pounds lighter than herself.“My best fights have been against girls like her, more for me to get to,” said Perozzi, ahead of her WBA world middleweight title defence against Ward in tonight’s sold out Teachers Rugby Fight Night XIV at Berkeley Institute.“I’m going out to win and that’s what it comes down to.”There will be plenty at stake for Perozzi tonight. A win would see her earn a shot at Lori Nelson’s WBC middleweight belt.She will also have the added incentive of improving her home record.“I have had more losses (two) in Bermuda than anywhere else, so there’s no hometown advantage here,” Perozzi said.The Bermudian southpaw, whose pro record stands at 8-4-1, has remained injury-free in the lead-up to tonight’s championship fight which she is confident will end in her favour.“I’ve been injured the last two fights so this time is the first in quite a while I have not injured myself,” she said. “I was a little superstitious going into my last sparring, but we made it through.”The mother-of-one says she has benefited from training with coach Jermal (Goofy) Woolridge, who will take on Canada’s Martello Jones in one of tonight’s kick boxing bouts.“I thought I was pretty set in my ways, but Goofy knocked that out of me,” she smiled. “I feel really good and it’s all going to come down to who’s in great shape, that’s what it comes down to.“We’ve both prepared for everything and if we have to switch it up my trainer will tell me what I need to do and I’ll go out there and do it. I’m in shape so I can think, so whatever he tells me to do I’ll do.”Perozzi landed the vacant WBA world middleweight belt via a split decision over against American Lorissa Rivas in Trinidad last December.Orthodox fighter Ward, whose pro record stands at 8-4-0, has moved up a weight class to take on Perozzi in what will be her first bout on foreign turf.The Arkansas fighter has trained harder for tonight’s title fight than any other and reckons the pressure is more on Perozzi to deliver than herself.“I think the pressure is on her because she has to defend, she’s in front of her home crowd and there’s nothing on me,” Ward said. “If I go home without it (championship belt) I am still the same person.“I come here, do my best and my best is all I can do.”Tonight’s WBA world middleweight championship fight consist of ten, two-minute rounds and can only be stopped by the referee following the mandatory eight-count.Should proceedings be halted before the fourth round for reasons other than a knockout, the bout will be declared unofficial.The three knock-down rule (in any one round) will also be in effect.Doors open at 6pm, with the first of 12 scheduled bouts taking place at 7pm.Only those 18 and older will be allowed to attend.

Teresa Perozzi and April Ward (right) at yesterday's weigh-in. Perozzi will defend her WBA world middleweight title tonight at the Berkeley Institute.
Teresa Perozzi.