Cancer kid inspires title chaser
When Eloy Perez fights Adrien Broner next month, he will have in his corner a boy he regards as the ultimate warrior.
Perez and Broner are due to meet in St Louis on February 25 for the WBO super-featherweight title.
An inspirational nine-year-old boy, Sy Sherman, is the official belt carrier for Perez. He was diagnosed with primary liver cancer 11 months ago but he has been a source of optimism ever since he joined the Perez team last year.
"Sy lifts up our spirits and he's fun to have around," Mexican-American Perez said this week. "He just smiles as if nothing bothers him, even when he is hurting. He's more a fighter than I am. I am the softy.
"He's coming to St Louis with us to watch us win that title and he's going to be the one holding that belt afterwards. He deserves it. He's just nine years old and he's already been through 11 rounds (of chemotherapy).
"He has spirit and a big heart; a heart of steel. I can't wait for that moment when I win in St Louis. He will get on my shoulders and hold that belt high so we can all be proud."
Perez, who has a professional record of 23-0-2 with seven knockouts, was introduced to Sherman by his assistant trainer, Sam Garcia, at their training base in Salinas, California.
"Sam heard about Sy's story and I know financially it's very hard for any parent to go through something like this," Perez said. "So Sam found him and brought him on to our team.
"We wanted to help him out and so I met him and we all fell in love with him. Sy just keeps smiling. Since I met him, he has come to my training sessions and to the last couple of fights. It's great having him around."
Sherman, who lives with his family in Salinas, was eight years old when he learnt he had hepatocellular carcinoma, the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, accounting to the Mayo Clinic.
FATAL WITHIN 3 to 6 MONTHS
The most common form of primary liver cancer, it usually affects people of 50 or older. If the cancer cannot be completely removed, the disease is usually fatal within three to six months.
"Unfortunately we were not able to continue the chemotherapy," said Sherman's father Matt. "He was already in the danger zone with the amount of toxins in his body.
"Remarkably, though, the cancer seems to be slowly but surely going away. It's a miracle. He shouldn't be here today is what it came down to and here he is, stronger than ever."
Matt believes Sy's regular visits to the Salinas gym where he chats to Perez, trainer Max Garcia, assistant trainer Sam Garcia and manager Kathy Garcia have been a significant factor in his son's improving health.
"It has given him something to look forward to and has kept his mind off of his cancer," Matt said. "It's kind of like a mind-over-matter feeling for him.
"He doesn't think about cancer. He is just thinking about Eloy, the Garcias and the next trip he gets to go on with the team. He talks and talks non-stop, and they spoil him every day with little presents and stuff.
"I've got to thank the whole Garcia camp for just brightening Sy's day more than anyone could have done up to this point. They are all like family now."
With Sy in his corner, Perez is confident he will take the WBO super-featherweight title from the unbeaten Broner, whose record stands at 22-0; 18.
"My training is going according to plan and I have been sparring with some incredible partners; all very talented," the 25-year-old said.
"I can't wait for February 25. I will own the night. I've worked so hard for many years for this opportunity and now it's just six weeks away. I have my eyes on the prize, I'm not going all the way to St Louis to lose. It's not an option."