McGuigan Makes Impressive Return, Stopping Perez in Fourth Round

Former champion Barry McGuigan, swept on by a tide of emotional support, made a successful comeback Wednesday, stopping Nicky Perez in the fourth round of a non-title super-featherweight fight.

The charismatic Irishman, who had not fought since losing his World Boxing Assn. featherweight title to Stevie Cruz in Las Vegas 22 months ago, showed little ring rust as he pounded Perez, the North American Boxing Federation champion, in the higher weight class.

McGuigan, 27, survived a brief counterattack midway through the second round but was otherwise in total control, displaying the hand speed and aggressiveness that took him to his title and two successful defenses.

With the fourth round coming to a close, he put Perez, a Mexican living in Tucson, on the canvas twice with a barrage of combinations. After Perez’s second knockdown, referee Sid Nathan stepped in at 2:55 of the round to halt the fight, which had been scheduled for 10 rounds.

“It was a big buildup, but I kept my cool very well,” said a jubilant McGuigan, whose 10-year-old brother, Daniel, was the first person to climb into the ring to congratulate him.

“I’m really excited and ecstatic. I wanted to win so badly. I was a bit overanxious at times, but McGuigan is back.”