Mike Perez vs Steven Ward Predictions: Cork’s Cuban comes to Ipswich via Doncaster and Dubai

Former world cruiserweight title contender Mike Perez faces ‘The Quiet Man’ Steven Ward on Saturday, June 7. The bout takes place on the undercard of Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni at Portman Road, home of Ipswich Town Football Club. The card will be screened live on DAZN.

Here are my Mike Perez vs Steven Ward predictions ahead of this cruiserweight contest.

Mike Perez vs Steven Ward Odds

Perez is 2/9 to get through Ward on Saturday while the underdog is priced at 10/3. A draw is available at 16/1.

Mike Perez vs Steven Ward Fight Preview

In many ways, Cuban veteran Perez is an odd sight on this card. ‘The Rebel’ has not fought on English soil since winning Prizefighter 18 at York Hall in 2011. But in many ways, the presence of Perez on this big card is not surprising at all.

For a start, Perez’s last four fights have taken place in Germany, Spain, Dubai and Gibraltar. Go back further and you’ll find Latvia, Belfast, Canada, New York and Doncaster on his record. It was almost inevitable he would eventually find his way to Ipswich. Wait for him long enough and Mike Perez will probably fight in your garden.

Secondly, he is now under the management of Dillian Whyte. ‘The Body Snatcher’ has a growing stable of fighters, including headliner Fabio Wardley. Whyte is heavily involved in this card, including boxing in a scheduled contest that does not have an opponent at time of writing. Therefore, it is the perfect occasion for Perez to fight for the first time under the former WBC title challenger’s management.

In the opposite corner is Ward, a trier from Belfast. Perez lives in Cork but to attribute any genuine Irish rivalry to this would be a stretch. What we do have is an underdog coming off a career-best win taking on the toughest fight of his career.

Ward stopped Tommy McCarthy in six rounds in March in front of a hometown crowd. McCarthy is a former European champion who gave Chris Billam-Smith 12 hard rounds in 2021, losing on a split decision before the future world champion stopped him in a rematch. McCarthy has not been in the best form, but his losses all came against good men. Ward joined esteemed company when he stopped ‘The Mac Attack’ in his tracks.

Perez will not be bothered by that victory. The Cuban is 39 and has seen almost everything in a 17-year professional career. The aforementioned Prizefighter, the three-round format that was once a wildly-popular British boxing staple. The World Boxing Super Series, where he came up short in a crack at Mairis Briedis’ IBF crown via unanimous decision.

Alexander Povetkin chinned Perez in one round. Carlos Takam could not make him crack in a 12-round draw. The Cuban beat mid-00s American heavyweight staples Tye Fields, Zack Page, Friday Ahunanya and Travis Walker in four consecutive fights. Perez has beaten world title challengers like Darnell Wilson and lost to ones like Bryant Jennings. He got an up-close look at boxing’s horrors after Magomed Abdusalamov suffered a traumatic brain injury after a defeat to Perez. The tragedy sparked a mental health battle for the Cuban as he came to terms with what had happened. 

Perez is actually unbeaten in the seven years since Briedis out-scored him. The eight victories have come against journeymen and gatekeepers, admittedly. But Perez has stopped seven out of eight. This is not a sad old veteran chasing shadows. Perez has not missed a year in the ring since COVID in 2020 and has been fighting opposition of a similar standard to Ward.

Mike Perez vs Steven Ward Full Card

Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni

Dillian Whyte vs TBA 

Pierce O'Leary vs Liam Dillon

Nelson Hysa vs Patrick Korte

Mike Perez vs Steven Ward

Sam Gilley vs Gideon Onyenani

Umar Khan vs Moises Garcia

Billy Adams vs Alexander Morales

Lewis Richardson vs Dimitri Protkunas

Lillie Winch vs Katerina Dvorakova

Jack Williams vs Fernando Valdez

Mike Perez vs Steven Ward Predictions

Perez did not win a world title in his prime and I do not think one is coming. But it is wonderful to see one of boxing’s most interesting campaigners in a British ring. From being held at gunpoint after defecting from Cuba to overcoming his mental demons; Perez has been a miracle from the word go.

‘The Rebel’ will not need to be a miracle to win this fight. Perez has enough ability, muscle memory and overall quality to take this by knockout at 4/9.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.