Pro Boxer joins USCG

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Boxer Gives Up Ring to Serve Country


By RICHARD DEGENERStaff Writer, (609) 463-6711
Published: Saturday, February 4, 2006
Updated: Saturday, February 4, 2006

— Jose “The Punisher” Perez Jr. could have been a contender. Instead, he decided to be a Coastie.

Perez, a professional boxer who has fought on ESPN and was the 2003 U.S. Men's National Champion as an amateur, made it official Friday morning when he graduated from boot camp. The former super featherweight is now Seaman Perez. He has 10 days to report to U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Decisive at its homeport in Pascagoula, Miss.

While the 22-year-old Perez traveled to such faraway places such as Thailand and Europe to box, amassing a 147-20 amateur record and going 7-1 as a pro, he is just as excited about the mission of the Cutter Decisive.

“We're patrolling the Caribbean. I signed up for six years and am aiming for a U.S. Coast Guard career. Everybody I spoke to said they loved it,” Perez said.

His proud mother, Diane Perez, and grandmother, Lupe Mercado, did not seem at all upset that he gave up the ring, but his girlfriend Linda Lai doesn't share that opinion.

“I think it's better than boxing. I think it's a good opportunity to travel and meet people,” said his mother.

The people he meets could be in trouble and need rescuing, but odds are they won't be trying to hit Perez with a quick jab or a right hook. Lai, however, said she liked watching him fight and will not be able to spend as much time with him as she did at home in Fremont, Calif.

“I like him boxing because he gets to stay home, near me,” Lai said.

Perez began fighting 12 years ago with his father, Jose Perez Sr., who did a little boxing himself, as his coach. The southpaw quickly became a fighter to watch as he built up an incredible record as an amateur in California. He won national titles and Golden Gloves. He fought on the World Team and at the Pan Am Games. Losing a fight by just one point in the scoring cost him a trip to the last Olympics.

“If I would have made the team, that would have brought the money. The plan was to make the team and then turn pro,” Perez said.

There are no regrets at this point. Perez decided to take a break from boxing, and his father understood, although Perez said he will look for a boxing gym in Pascagoula to see if there are any young fighters he can help. Boxing may not be completely out of his blood.

Perez did not want his shipmates to even know about his previous life, although they eventually found out, and that is to his credit, said Capt. Curtis B. Odom, the commanding officer of Training Center Cape May.

“He is really a team player. That's what we teach, team over oneself. He didn't want the spotlight on himself and that's good character,” Odom said.

Chief Warrant Officer Bill Carson noted that Perez arrived in incredible shape for a new recruit due to his boxing regimen. The sport also taught him plenty of self-discipline, which Carson said could translate into a very successful Coast Guard career.

Perez is not the first professional athlete to serve in the Coast Guard. Boxer Jack Dempsey, football player Otto Graham and golfer Arnold Palmer, who reportedly hit golf balls around the base from 1946-51, are perhaps the most well known. Professional surfer Tom Blake, Major League umpire Al Barlick and NHL hockey players Frank Brimsek and Art Coulter served. Jack Kramer, of tennis fame, and baseball player and coach Jim “Shanty” Hegan served.

A list of 82 famous people to serve or be associated with the Coast Guard, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary, also includes actors such as Humphrey Bogart, Lloyd Bridges, Caesar Romero and Gig Young. Famous authors include Alex Haley and Pultizer Prize winner Edwin O'Connor. Walter Cronkite and Charles Gibson were newscasters who were Coasties. Entertainers include Sid Caesar and Rudy Vallee. Many politicians began in the Coast Guard, including U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn and Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski.

Joining the Coast Guard, Capt. Odom noted, doesn't necessarily mean Perez can't go box again. There is precedent.

“Arnold went back to golf after he did his tour,” Odom noted.

In fact, he did pretty well.

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