Dream matchup: unbeaten local boxers Perez, Griego-Ortega to meet

May 25—It's happening.

Albuquerque flyweight boxers Abraham Perez and Matt Griego-Ortega will risk their mutual unbeaten status against each other on Aug. 10 at Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque's Legacy Promotions announced on Saturday.

The vacant USBA flyweight title will be at stake.

The bout between Perez (10-0, five KOs) and Griego-Ortega (14-0, 10 KOs) will be part of a nationally televised (ESPN) card featuring Albuquerque native Angelo Leo (24-1, 12 KOs) in the main event, challenging Mexico's Luis Alberto Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) for Lopez's IBF featherweight title.

The card is to be staged in cooperation with Top Rank, Inc.

The possibility of a showdown between the two unbeaten fighters had been bandied about online in recent weeks — some saying the time had come, others believing it was too soon.

In a phone interview on Sunday, Legacy Promotions' Aaron Perez — Abraham's father — said the Aug. 10, nationally televised card provided an opportunity too good to pass up.

"I wanted something big for Abraham," Aaron Perez said. "I reached out to Matt's dad (Danny Ortega, who has promoted his son's most recent two bouts) to see if he was interested in sharing the spotlight with Abraham.

"Either way (no matter who wins), it's a chance for them to be seen on the big stage, both of them."

The elder Perez said he hadn't discussed the possibility with Abraham before making the call to Ortega, not knowing what the response would be.

After getting a positive response, when Perez approached his son, "He was excited. He's excited to put a show on for Albuquerque in general."

Griego-Ortega, 28, turned pro in 2016 after a successful amateur career. He last fought in August 2023, defeating former world champion Merlito Sabillo by second-round TKO at Expo New Mexico's Hispanic Pavilion.

Perez, 25, turned pro in 2021 after an amateur career that produced Golden Gloves and USA Boxing national championships. He last fought on March 23, defeating Fernando Diaz by unanimous decision by 10-round unanimous decision, earning the WBC Youth Silver flyweight title, at Expo New Mexico's Creative Arts Center.

Clearly, there are parallels in this matchup, though the stakes are not as high, with the Johnny Tapia-Danny Romero crosstown showdown that took place in Las Vegas, Nevada in July 1998 — Tapia winning by unanimous decision.

There was considerable hostility between Tapia and Romero leading up to that fight, though the two had been friends before and were again afterward.

Little or no trash talk should be expected between Griego-Ortega and Abraham Perez. While the two are not close friends, they have sparred each other and share a mutual respect.