Michel Rivera
Michel Rivera Medina, commonly known as "La Zarza", is a Dominican professional boxer who has held the IBF–USBA lightweight title since 2020.
| Michel Rivera | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Michel Rivera Medina |
| Nickname(s) | La Zarza |
| Weight(s) | Lightweight |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm) |
| Nationality | Dominican |
| Born | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record[1] | |
| Total fights | 22 |
| Wins | 22 |
| Wins by KO | 14 |
| Losses | 0 |
Professional career
Rivera made his professional debut on 19 March 2016, scoring a third-round technical knockout (TKO) victory against Gregory Estevez at the Gimnasio Pedro Cruz in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.[2]
After compiling a record of 15–0 (10 KOs), he made his U.S. debut in June 2019, defeating then-unbeaten René Téllez Girón via eight-round unanimous decision (UD) at the WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa.[3]
His next fight came against Jose Luis Gallegos in September. At the pre-fight weigh in, Gallegos failed to weigh inside the 136 lbs weight limit and was subsequently fined $1600 by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), with half going to Rivera and the other half to the CSAC. Rivera won the bout via fifth-round TKO after referee Marcos Rosales called a halt to the contest before the commencement of the sixth round. After the fight, Rivera visited Gallegos in his dressing room to return the $800 he gained from the fine.[4]
He next faced Fidel Maldonado Jr for the vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title on 1 February 2020, at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. After knocking his opponent to the canvas in the tenth round, Rivera followed up with a sustained attack which prompted referee Keith Hughes to call a halt to the contest, handing Rivera his first regional title via tenth-round TKO.[5]
Rivera won his second regional title in his next bout, defeating Ladarius Miller via ten-round UD on 31 October, capturing the vacant IBF–USBA lightweight title at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.[6]
Professional boxing record
| 21 fights | 21 wins | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 14 | 0 |
| By decision | 7 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Jon Fernandez | KO | 8 (12), 0:44 | Jul 3, 2021 | Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Anthony Mercado Raices | KO | 8 (8), 2:26 | Feb 27, 2021 | Shrine Exposition Hall, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Ladarius Miller | UD | 10 | Oct 31, 2020 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | Won vacant IBF–USBA lightweight title |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Fidel Maldonado | TKO | 10 (10), 1:40 | Feb 1, 2020 | Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Jose Gallegos | KO | 5 (8), 3:00 | Sep 21, 2019 | Rabobank Theater, Bakersfield, California, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Juan Rene Tellez | UD | 8 | Jun 26, 2019 | WinnaVegas Casino Resort, Sloan, Iowa, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Carlos Daniel Cordoba | TKO | 2 (8), 0:19 | Jan 26, 2019 | Radisson Victoria Plaza, Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Yankiel León | TKO | 8 (10), 2:04 | Jul 16, 2018 | Hotel Jaragua, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Jampier Oses | TKO | 7 (8), 0:29 | Feb 24, 2018 | Club Mauricio Baez, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Manuel Botis | UD | 8 | Dec 22, 2017 | Los Prados Social Club, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Luis Ernesto Jose | TKO | 2 (8) | Sep 14, 2017 | Hotel Jaragua, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Luis Rosa | TKO | 1 (6), 1:17 | Jun 24, 2017 | Hotel Jaragua, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Marco Acevedo | UD | 10 | May 22, 2017 | Club el Millon, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Luis Nino | TKO | 4 (8), 1:12 | Dec 16, 2016 | Maunoloa Night Club y Casino, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Juan Rafael Polanco | UD | 6 | Sep 23, 2016 | Salon de Eventos P. C. Sambil, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Juan Carlos Contreras | UD | 4 | Jun 11, 2016 | Coliseo Pedro Julio Nolasco, La Romana, Dominican Republic | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Aneudy Mesa | TKO | 1 (6), 1:35 | May 26, 2016 | Parque del Este, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Dionisio Rodriguez | TKO | 2 (4), 2:06 | Apr 17, 2016 | Gimnasio Pedro Cruz, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jose Vidal Sanchez | UD | 4 | Apr 9, 2016 | Club Maquiteria, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Eduardo Juan | TKO | 2 (4), 1:53 | Apr 2, 2016 | Club El Millon, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Gregory Estevez | TKO | 3 (4), 2:36 | Mar 19, 2016 | Gimnasio Pedro Cruz, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic |
References
- "Boxing record for Michel Rivera". BoxRec.
- "BoxRec: Michel Rivera vs. Gregory Estevez". BoxRec. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- Idec, Keith (21 June 2019). "Michel Rivera Drops, Out-Points Rene Tellez-Giron On 'ShoBox' - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- "Boxer GIVES BACK weight fine money after battering veteran opponent". World Boxing News. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- Donovan, Jake (1 February 2020). "Michel Rivera Breaks Down, Stops Fidel Maldonado in Ten - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- Idec, Keith (31 October 2020). "Michel Rivera Out-Points Ladarius Miller In 10-Rounder, Remains Unbeaten - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.