Fighting in Libya: Cuban Cruiserweight Mike Perez Headlines Benghazi DAZN card
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Benghazi, Libya (August 8th, 2025)– The World Boxing Association, in conjunction with DAZN, Russia Match TV, and Argentina TyC Sports will present a unique five bout card of boxing at martyrs of Benina Stadium, Benghazi, Libya, on Friday, August 8, 2025, featuring three 10 rounders and two 12 round main event bouts, with five unbeaten prospects showcasing the card, as well as Cuban former cruiserweight world title challenger Mike ‘The Rebel’ Perez.
Josue Francisco Aguero, 13-0 with seven knockouts, Catamarca, Argentina, a super featherweight prospect, will open the card against Diego Ortiz Aleman, 20-3-1 with 14 knockouts, Playas de Rosarito, Mexico, with an eight bout winning streak. Aguero is favored to win by decision.
Perez, 31-3-1 with 22 knockouts, Cork Ireland, by way of Ciego de Avila, Cuba, is favored to win by decision over Christian Fabian Luis, 12-4 with eight knockouts, General Roca, Argentina, in a cruiserweight bout.
Lightweight prospect Sofian Oumiha, 6-0 with three knockouts, Toulouse, France, is favored to win by decision over former two-time world lightweight title challenger Francisco Fonseca, 36-4-2 with 29 knockouts, Managua, Nicaragua.
In the DAZN co-main event, featherweight prospect Mirco Cuello, 15-0 with 12 knockouts, Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe, Argentina, is favored to win by decision over Sergio Rios Jimenez, 19-0 with seven knockouts, San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico.
In the other DAZN co-main event, light heavyweight prospect Albert Ramirez, 21-0 with 18 knockouts, El Vigia, Venezuela, is favored to win by knockout or stoppage over Jerome Pampelone, 19-2 with 12 knockouts, Auckland, New Zealand, by way of London, United Kingdom.
The 2011 Libyan Civil War resulted in the overthrow of Muammar El-Gaddafi’s authoritarian regime after a prolonged period of conflict. The uprising, fueled by the Arab Spring movement, began in February 2011, escalating into a full-blown civil war with international intervention. By October 2011, Gaddafi was killed, and his regime was dismantled. The country continues to grapple with instability and two geographical political divisions.
Libya is primarily divided between two rival governments, each supported by various armed groups and external actors. The two factions are: one, The Government of National Unity (GNU), based in Tripoli, internationally recognized and led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, which controls Western Libya, which relies on the support of various militias; and two, The Government of National Stability (GNS), a rival administration based in Eastern Libya (primarily Benghazi where the boxing card will take place, and Tobruk which was the site of Allied resistance to General Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Corps. Between April and December of 1941 in World War II.) ) and is affiliated with the House of Representatives, led by Prime Minister Osama Hamad and supported by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA).
Despite a 2020 ceasefire, a power struggle between the two rival factions continues, fueled by disagreements over holding national elections and forming a unified government. Scheduled 2021 elections were indefinitely postponed. As a military and political ceasefire remains indefinitely in place, the opportunity to conduct a professional boxing card in a climate of tolerance finally was conceived, and came about after more than half a century of a closed Libyan society.
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