Too usually in boxing, followers are left to observe younger, proficient boxers take soft-touch fights, avoiding dangers till the chance to struggle for a title presents itself. That isn’t the case on Saturday as two undefeated lightweights go one-on-one within the largest struggle of their careers when Frank Martin battles Michel Rivera (10 p.m. ET, Showtime).
Rivera has leaned right into a passing resemblance to a younger Muhammad Ali, sporting similar-style trunks and sporting Ali’s coiffure.
To this point, Rivera has achieved all the pieces requested of him contained in the ring, going 24-0 with 14 wins by knockout at simply 24-years outdated. His most difficult take a look at got here in July 2021 when he confronted Jon Fernandez. Fernandez managed to drop Rivera within the sixth spherical, however Rivera stormed again and scored a knockout with a crushing proper hand in Spherical 8.
On the pre-fight press convention, Rivera talked up his opponent whereas touting his personal dimension and expertise as simply an excessive amount of for Martin.
“We all know that Martin is an effective boxer with skills, however I am the man. I am greater and stronger,” Rivera mentioned. “He is sturdy and assured too, however I am extra assured. That is my time and I’ve to do all the pieces to win this struggle. This struggle is all the pieces. I imagine that I am extra proficient, however I like that he is assured. For me, that is the perfect struggle of the 12 months. No one ought to miss this struggle.”
Martin runs in the identical group as Errol Spence Jr. Whereas Martin is older than Rivera at 27, he has much less expertise with a 16-0 report.
Martin’s degree of competitors has possibly been a bit under his expertise, however he is persistently proven that they might make him a participant at light-weight. After TKO wins over Romero Duno and Jackson Marinez in 2022, Martin is able to take the most important step of his profession when he faces Rivera.
“That is the struggle that is going to get me to the subsequent degree,” Martin mentioned on the press convention. “I am not trying previous Rivera, however my predominant factor is simply to get in there and capitalize off the sport plan and get the victory. Then we’ll preserve going up from there.”
Each males are guaranteeing motion and a can’t-miss struggle on Saturday night time as they shut out 2022 with the ultimate main broadcast struggle of the 12 months.
Rivera vs. Martin struggle card, odds
Odds through Caesars Sportsbook
| Frank Martin -240 | Michel Rivera +200 | Light-weight |
| Jose Uzcategui | Vladimir Shishkin | Tremendous middleweight |
| Vincent Astrolabio | Nikolai Potapov | Bantamweight |
Prediction
Martin is favored regardless of being much less examined at greater ranges. That is seemingly a mix of his energy and the truth that we have seen Rivera placed on the deck in his profession. Nonetheless, Martin has to navigate entering into vary in opposition to a slick fighter with good attain. This can be a unbelievable struggle not solely due to the mix of two younger, undefeated fighters needing to make a splash in a deep division, however as a result of stylistically it’s an intriguing struggle that ought to ship on each fighters’ guarantees for motion.
Rivera having been examined and having sharp expertise, good slickness and size provides him the sting for an upset. The struggle may simply go both manner, however Rivera seemingly takes over the struggle if it goes previous 4 rounds. Decide: Michel Rivera through UD
