Willibaldo Garcia Perez vs Rene Calixto Bibiano Preview April 26th, 2025
The vacant IBF Junior Bantamweight Title is up for grabs again this Saturday, April 26th as Willibaldo Garcia Perez and Rene Calixto Bibiano, both of Mexico, battle it out over 12 rounds in their homeland. The two met back on December 21st in Shizuoka, Japan for the belt but it was declared a 12-round split draw. In their previous fights, Perez last fought last June when he stopped Carlos Bautista Sanchez in just 161 seconds while Bibiano’s previous 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 35-year-old Perez makes the ring walk with a record of 22-5-2 with 13 Ko’s and has boxed 159 rounds since making his pro debut back in 2017. He stands 5-feet-4-inches tall but unfortunately there’s no reach information for him. We do know he’s not the hardest-hitting junior bantamweight 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 30 years old and climbs through the ropes with a perfect mark of 23-0-1 with 9 Ko’s and has 123 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 seven bouts.
Bibiano will be taking a step up in class here against Perez as just seven of his 24 opponents have entered the ring with a winning record and he hasn’t met any legitimate top-10 contenders other than Perez. 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 on 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. Basically all of Perez’s defeats have been by very close decisions and his experience should serve him well in this fight. He was given the nod 118-110 by one judge in the first fight with Bibiano, while the other two judges had it 114-114 and 112-116. I’m expecting another close battle with Perez pulling it out, which I believe he did in the first fight between the pair.
Another close fight with the difference being Perez’s experience.
Play: Perez +115 @ BetOnline.ag
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Rene Calixto Bibiano betting • Willibaldo Garcia Perez betting