Perla Bazaldua, a 15-time national amateur champion from Los Angeles, has signed a long-term promotional contract with Top Rank. The 19 year-old junior bantamweight is LA's latest female boxing star to sign with Top Rank, folowing multi-weight world champions and pound-for-pound queens Mikaela Mayer and Seniesa Estrada. Bazaldua (1-0, 1 KO) will make her Top Rank debut in a four-rounder on Saturday, May 10th as part of the Emanuel Navarrete-Charly Suarez card in San Diego. She is co-managed by George Ruiz, who has guided Mayer’s entire career, and her head trainer/co-manager is Manny Robles, who has worked with the likes of Andy Ruiz Jr., Oscar Valdez, Serhii Bohachuk, and reigning WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza.
 
“I’m honored to be part of the Top Rank family, and I can’t wait to get started,” Bazaldua said. “I want to inspire young women, especially where I come from in South Central Los Angeles. I want to show young women that if you stay disciplined and true to yourself, dreams do come true.”
 
“George and Manny have an excellent eye for talent, and I look forward to working with them to develop Perla into a world champion and a superstar in the sport,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum.
 
“Perla is special. Only 19, she has ring smarts far beyond her years and a work ethic that signals a world champion in the making,” Ruiz said. "When she decided to turn pro, I was honored that she chose Manny and me to manage her. She’s only the third woman ever signed by Top Rank, so Bob Arum and Todd duBoef see what Manny and I saw in her. I’m proud to represent her alongside the best women in boxing, Mikaela Mayer and Ginny Fuchs."
 
Robles said, “It’s been a long time coming. I’m thrilled and excited for Perla, but I know this is the beginning of something great. Her commitment to the sport is like no one else, and I’m certain she will take women’s boxing to another level, just like Mikaela Mayer. She has some big shoes to fill with the world’s best boxing promotional company, Top Rank!”
 
Bazaldua started boxing at 9 years old under the watchful eye of her father, Crispin. Boxing is a family affair, as her older brother, Criztec, is currently a 6-0 junior welterweight prospect. In addition to an amateur run that included a gold medal at the 2023 Youth Brandenburg Cup in Germany, Bazaldua spent multiple camps as a sparring partner for Estrada, who retired last year as the undefeated, undisputed minimumweight world champion. Last December, she had a show-stopping pro debut in Santa Ynez, California, scoring a first-round stoppage over Mollie Backowski.