Abraham Perez to defend WBA interim flyweight world title against Yankiel Rivera
On Saturday, November 7, WBA interim flyweight titlist Abraham Perez will make his first defense against WBA No. 4-ranked challenger Yankiel Rivera, live on DAZN (8 pm ET/6 pm MT) from Albuquerque's Kiva Auditorium.
Undefeated Perez, 15-0 (7 KOs), and Rivera, 8-1-1 (4 KOs), of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, will meet in the 12-round main event of Salita Promotions and Legacy Boxing Promotions, in association with Wynn Records, event that will serve as a fistic homecoming for “Hammer” Perez.
A former amateur standout, Perez beat the odds by surviving a near-fatal drowning incident, and subsequent eight-day coma, in 2024. Now fully recovered, the 27-year-old won the interim title in his last fight, a 12-round split decision over Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Gonzalez in June.
“Most athletes dream to be in the current situation I am in - defending a belt in their hometown,” Perez said. “It means a whole lot to not only me, but the local fans who get to see the fight. I did not let what happened to me stop the dream of becoming a world champion...”
“El Doctorcito” Rivera was the only boxer from Puerto Rico to qualify for the 2020 Olympics and finished his amateur career with a 133-14 record. Rivera turned professional in 2022 and fought for an interim flyweight world championship in just his eighth professional fight, a draw with then-undefeated Angelino Cordova.
In his next fight, Rivera lost an upset decision to the aforementioned Jonathan Gonzalez in January. The 29-year-old was last seen scoring a first-round knockout over Francisco Vargas Martinez last Friday, September 11.
“You will see a 100 per cent Yankiel Rivera - completely focused, prepared and completely motivated,” Rivera said. “I know some are skeptical after my defeat, but I will show them that a defeat does not define me. With the exception of a very small group, every fighter faces a loss. It is not the loss that defines you, it is what you do afterwards.
“I see this fight as an opportunity to beat the guy who beat me. A victory will vindicate that defeat and will show that I belong in the mix with the elite fighters in the 112-pound division. My name has to be on that list. I’m ready to fight and defeat the best of the division.”