Michel Rivera Medina, commonly known as "La Zarza Ali", is a Dominican professional boxer who has held the IBF–USBA lightweight title since 2020.

Michel Rivera
Born
Michel Rivera Medina

March 10, 1998
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
NationalityDominican
Other namesLa Zarza Ali[2]
Statistics
Weight(s)Lightweight
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Reach71 in (180 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record[1]
Total fights26
Wins25
Wins by KO14
Losses1

Professional career

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Rivera made his professional debut on 19 March 2016, just 9 days after his 18th birthday, scoring a third-round technical knockout (TKO) victory against Gregory Estevez at the Gimnasio Pedro Cruz in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

Rivera fought thrice in 2021. In his first fight of the year, on 27 February 2021, Rivera faced Anthony Mercado Raices.[8] He won the fight by a late eight-round knockout. Five months later, on 3 July 2021, Rivera knocked out Jon Fernandez in the eight round of a twelve round bout.[9] Rivera finished the year with a unanimous decision win against Jose Matias Romero on 30 October 2021.[10]

Rivera defeated Joseph Adorno via ten-round UD on 26 March, 2022 at the Minneapolis Armory in Minneapolis, USA.[11]

Michel Rivera suffered the first defeat of his professional career, losing by unanimous decision to Frank Martin on 17 Dec, 2022 at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom in Las Vegas, USA. Rivera who dressed like his idol Muhammad Ali, was floored in round 7 by Frank Martin en route to the defeat.[12] Rivera rebounded on 25 Nov 2023, defeating former IBF light welterweight champion Sergey Lipinets by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

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27 fights 26 wins 1 loss
By knockout 14 0
By decision 12 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
27 Win 26–1 Hugo Alberto Roldan SD 10 Jul 27, 2024 Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
26 Win 25–1   Sergey Lipinets UD 10 Nov 25, 2023   Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
25 Loss 24–1   Frank Martin UD 12 Dec 17, 2022   The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
24 Win 24–0   Jerry Perez UD 8 Oct 15, 2022   Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
23 Win 23–0   Joseph Adorno UD 10 Mar 26, 2022   Minneapolis Armory, Minneapolis, U.S
22 Win 22–0   Jose Matias Romero UD 10 Oct 30, 2021   Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
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

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  1. ^ "Boxing record for Michel Rivera". BoxRec.
  2. ^ Rivera, Michel. "Boxing Rec: Nickname". boxrec.com. Boxing Rec. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  3. ^ "BoxRec: Michel Rivera vs. Gregory Estevez". BoxRec. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  4. ^ Idec, Keith (21 June 2019). "Michel Rivera Drops, Out-Points Rene Tellez-Giron On 'ShoBox' - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Boxer GIVES BACK weight fine money after battering veteran opponent". World Boxing News. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  6. ^ Donovan, Jake (1 February 2020). "Michel Rivera Breaks Down, Stops Fidel Maldonado in Ten - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Christ, Scott (24 February 2021). "Dirrell vs Davis: Michel Rivera to face Anthony Raices in FS1 prelim headliner". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  9. ^ Herriges, Jeremy. "Michel Rivera KOs Jon Fernandez with one punch in round 8 (Video)". fansided.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  10. ^ Idec, Keith (30 October 2021). "Michel Rivera Boxes Past Matias Romero For Unanimous Decision Win". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  11. ^ Michael, Rosenthal (26 March 2022). "Michel Rivera jabs his way to an easy victory over Joseph Adorno - Boxing News". www.boxingjunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  12. ^ Michael, Benson (19 December 2022). "LOOKALIKE Boxer Michel Rivera, dressed as Muhammad Ali, is floored by Frank Martin as he suffers first defeat of career - Boxing News". www.talksport.com. Retrieved 19 December 2022.