Willibaldo Garcia Perez vs Rene Calixto Bibiano Preview December 21st, 2024
The vacant IBF Junior Bantamweight Title is up for grabs this Saturday, December 21st as Willibaldo Garcia Perez and Rene Calixto Bibiano, both of Mexico, battle it out over 12 rounds in Shizuoka, Japan. Perez last fought in June when he Carlos Bautista Sanchez in just 161 seconds while Bibiano’s last contest resulted in a 10-round unanimous decision over Sikho Nqothole.
Perez vs Bibiano Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Willibaldo Garcia Perez +115
- Rene Calixto Bibiano -145
My Pick
The 34-year-old Perez makes the ring walk with a record of 22-5-1 with 13 Ko’s and has boxed 147 rounds since making his pro debut back in 2017. Unfortunately there’s no height and reach information for him so we don’t know exactly how he stack up size-wise against Bibiano. We do know he’s not the hardest-hitting light flyweight out there though but he’s quite respectable as 59.1 per cent of his victories have come by stoppage, including five of his past six.
He has five defeats on his record with the first coming in 2018 in his second pro fight when he dropped a four-round majority decision to Esteban Camacho Varo after having a point deducted in each of the second and third rounds. In fact, Perez’s pro career got off to a rocky start. After winning his pro debut he lost his next three contests as he also dropped four-round decisions to Rafael Alexander Delgado and Rafael Marzan and fought to a three-round no-contest with Jesus Sanchez after Sanchez was unable to continue following an accidental foul.
Perez then drew his seventh pro outing in a six-rounder with Misael Gracia Acevedo. Also in 2018. His next loss came at the hands of Alexandro Santiago via a 10-round majority decision in a shot at the WBC International Bantamweight Title in 2020. Perez then fought for the vacant WBO International Bantamweight belt in 2021 against Paul butler but was dropped in the first round and was edged by a 10-round split decision. He did manage to capture the IBF Latino Super Flyweight Title last year with an eighth-round TKO over Marlon Rios Sarinana. He also has wins over Victor Mendez, Oscar Nery Plata and Dewayne Beamon.
The unbeaten Bibiano is 29 years old and climbs through the ropes with a perfect mark of 23-0 with 9 Ko’s and has 111 rounds of pro experience under his belt since making his debut in 2016. He measures 5-feet-5-inches tall with an unlisted reach and carries less power in his punches than Perez as just 39.1 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he’s gone the distance in four of his past six bouts. This will be Bibiano’s first title shot of any kind and his third fight in Japan.
Bibiano will be taking a step up in class here against Perez as just seven of his 23 opponents have entered the ring with a winning record and he hasn’t met any legitimate top-10 contenders. In fact, based on his record, fans may be wondering how he got a world title shot for the belt which Fernando Martinez gave up when he decided to face Kazuto Ioka in a rematch this new Year’s Eve rather than fight his mandatory challenger.
Prediction…
Perez is five years older than Bibiano but is quite durable and possesses more power. However, he will be fighting outside of Mexico for just the second time. Basically all of Perez’s defeats have been by very close decisions and his experience should serve him well in this fight. I’m expecting a close battle with Perez pulling it out.
A close fight with the difference being Perez’s experience.
Play: Perez +115 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Rene Calixto Bibiano betting • Willibaldo Garcia Perez betting