Peres out to show new skills

Late bloomer Geovana Peres is out to show some new tricks when she defends her WBO world light-heavyweight title in Auckland tonight.

The Brazilian-born New Zealander takes on Canada’s Claire Hafner at Sky City.

The pair weighed in at the venue yesterday, looking fit and trim with Peres, 42, at 78.7kg and Hafner, 41, at 78.1kg.

Peres only came to boxing at the age of 38 via the corporate fighting scene and hasn’t reached her potential, says trainer Terry Reid-batchelor who has been in her corner for those four years.

‘‘Every fight she has come into she has brought a new skill, a different level and you will see a few more skills in this fight,’’ Reidbatchelor told Stuff.

‘‘Her ring-craft and ring IQ has definitely grown, especially with the experienced sparring partners she has had.’’

What Peres may lack in technical skills, she makes up for with attitude. She is a pressing fighter, non-stop with her punching and chasing her opponents down, comfortable to fight at close range.

‘‘She is relentless and with her style she has to be. She doesn’t have the big amateur background that other fighters do, so we had to try and take out the skill factor and take the fight into the gutter, so to speak. Press and make them (her opponents) suffer under pressure and make mistakes under pressure.’’

A lack of a knockout is the only missing ingredient in a 7-1 pro record but Reid-batchelor has been patient and senses that won’t be far away.

‘‘It’s just that she is still gaining experience. That knockout is going to come with her finding her range better and setting up her shots better. She is doing that better than ever now.’’

The lack of information on Hafner (4-1) doesn’t bother the Kiwi camp who have used different men and women sparring partners to prepare for anything.

‘‘We don’t know too much but we know bits and pieces, it’s just gluing those bits and pieces together,’’ Reid-batchelor said.