Ray Perez continued to compete as an amateur after the 1956 Olympics, winning the 1957 International Diamond Belt and the 1958 AAU Championship. He turned professional in July 1958, winning his first bout against Charlie Wong by a second-round knockout. In May 1962 Perez won the US professional flyweight title by KO'ing Ray Pachecho in the 12th round. In January 1963 he again defeated Pachecho, this time by TKO in the 8th, to win the North American flyweight crown. Perez later moved to Australia and settled there for the rest of his life, continuing to box. In 1969 he challenged Ken Bradley for the Australian featherweight title but a 15-round draw allowed Bradley to retain the crown. Perez fought his last professional fight in April 1970, losing a 10-round decision to Toro George.