Happy Birthday to Juaquin Gallardo and Alejandro Perez!

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

  Gallardo (front row, far left) back in his amateur days. A young Diego Corrales is to his left. (Gabriela Mendoza)

Norcalboxing.net would like to wish a Happy Birthday to North Salinas' Alejandro "El Alacrán" Perez and Oakland's Juaquin "Killer" Gallardo!

The 35-year-old Gallardo (18-8-1, 5 KOs), one of the greatest amateurs the region has ever produced, was the 1995 National Golden Gloves champion at 106 pounds and was an Olympic Team alternate the following year. During a pro career where he has moved up in weight and won the WBC Latino regional 140-pound title, "Killer" currently resides in Vallejo with his family.

Perez (16-3-1, 11 KOs), is coming off a highlight reel knockout of Derrick Wilson in February (above). The 26-year-old is a regular at Hollywood's Wild Card Gym and is campaigning for a world title shot at featherweight.  A former USNBC regional junior featherweight champ, Perez scored one of the Knockout of the Year candidates in 2011 when he flattened Antonio Escalante in Fairfield.

Norcalboxing.net's Ryan Maquiñana is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Panel. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his weekly column for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.

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