Mike Perry dropped tennis star girlfriend with body shot in ring

Jake Paul’s upcoming opponent, Mike Perry, once floored his tennis star girlfriend with a brutal shot in training.

Former MMA star Perry will fight for just the second time as a professional boxer when he goes toe to toe with Paul in Florida this weekend. Paul had been due to fight Mike Tyson in Texas this summer, only for the former heavyweight champion to withdraw on medical advice.

Perry has carved out an impressive 5-0 record in bare-knuckle boxing since leaving the UFC but will be at a weight disadvantage against Paul. The 32-year-old has also had a turbulent life away from the fight scene.

Perry is married to Latory Gonzalez, who has a background in pro wrestling, with a pair meeting at an MMA show. They have been together since 2020 and have two children.

Previously, Perry was in a relationship with tennis player Danielle Nickerson, who he was captured sparring with back in 2019. Then 27, Perry took the spar lightly for the most part, tapping her on the head and body.

However, towards the end of the clip, broadcast on his own YouTube channel, he landed a left hook to the body of Nickerson, who dropped to the floor. She was soon back on her feet though, with the pair sharing a hug and a kiss.

Perry later congratulated his then-girlfriend, quipping: “Good job – give me some love.” Nickerson took an active role in Perry’s training camps by preparing the welterweight’s meals.

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She was also spotted in his corner during fights. The pair married in 2019, only to file for divorce the following year. His current wife, Gonzalez, also plays a hands-on role in his career and has previously walked him to the cage for an MMA fight, carrying his ice and water. What role she will take in this weekend’s bout against Paul remains to be seen.

It may not be the last time the pair collide in the ring, with Paul saying he would face Perry in a bare-knuckle or MMA bout. He told The MMA Hour: “I want to do an MMA fight and I think Perry is actually a good opponent for MMA and maybe bare-knuckle. I haven’t thought about it but I’m down.”