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05/04/2006 Archived Entry: "New England Chatta"
New England Chatta
The Weight is Over For Rivera
By J.D. Vena
Those who know me know that I have a knack for sticking my foot in my mouth. In fact, I’ve been told that I’d be the most eligible bachelor in town had I not owned this profound ability. At the time, my choice of words for Jose Rivera in a men’s room was probably more inappropriate than most other uncomfortable pleasantries one would hear in a lavatory. While washing our hands (and yes, at least I wash), I queried, “What’s up with that scale?” This was nearly a half an hour after Jose officially weighed in two pounds over the welterweight limit for his title defense against Brooklyn’s Luis Collazo last year.
He didn’t have an answer for me. If he had one it probably have been a swift right cross. Fighters practically don’t even like to hear hello before a weigh in. Fortunately, my looks were preserved, which was a good thing because I was the ring announcer for the undercard portion of Don King’s show. In hindsight, I really didn’t think my question was too inappropriate because former world champ, Keith Holmes scaled two pounds over the jr. middleweight limit in his eliminator bout with Roman Karmazin when he hit the scale. I thought there really was a problem with the scale. As fate would have it, both Rivera and Holmes made weight later that evening but didn’t have answers the following night losing their battles in the ring. Quite simply, their opponents had just a little more in the tank.
It was particularly a disappointing night for Rivera who not only lost his title but didn’t under the circumstance of the fight being staged in his hometown, the city of Worcester (pronounced Wusstah), MA. Despite having no interim bouts since the defeat, Rivera will get the biggest chance of his career Saturday night when he returns to the same venue, The DCU Center for face WBA jr. middleweight champion Alex “Terra” Garcia on Showtime Championship Boxing.
To most insiders there are many reasons that Rivera is considered an underdog. For one, Garcia has spent his entire career at jr. middleweight. Early in his career, Garcia had weighed as heavy as 170 pounds. True enough, Rivera has had many fights at jr. middleweight prior to winning the welterweight title in Germany over previously unbeaten Michael Trabant. But to Rivera, he is finally competing at a weight he feels most comfortable.
“I have to honestly say that I was not proud of my performance in the Collazo fight,” explained Rivera. “But the one thing I was proud of is that when I go into a fight, no matter how I feel, I am going to give 100 percent. That is what you will get from me. I had to lose 25 pounds to get down to 147. A fighter of my weight and height and structure, that is too much weight to be losing and I depleted myself. Making 154, I am going to be healthier and stronger.”
Another reason for concern is that Rivera has been inactive since his April 2005 fight with Collazo and has had only two fights in the last three years. As a result, many are quick to point out that Rivera’s ring rust will be a significant factor.
“The way I stay sharp is by staying in the gym,” assures Rivera. “I live clean. I do not abuse my body and I am constantly in shape. That way, when I get the call that a fight opportunity comes up, I am ready to go. I think, honestly, I would have preferred to have a tune-up fight before a fight of this magnitude. But when this fight came along, I mean, I had to take it. So I am just going with the opportunities that are given to me.”
As Collazo had last year, Garcia will be fighting in hostile territory Saturday night. At least for Collazo, he was able to bring fanfare from Brooklyn. The only people that will be showing their support of Garcia would be his family. Garcia hasn’t fought near his birthplace of Tijuana, Mexico since 2001 and all of his title fights have been in the United States.
“I have been training really hard,” said the champion. “I feel ready to go to the fight no matter where it is. A champion should fight any place. It does not matter where a champion has to go to fight. He just goes and fights. Right now, a lot of people know me already, but I want more people to know me so that I can be welcome to fight in many places. I will fight anywhere.”
Rivera would like a belt for the other shoulder
Garcia is also not showing signs of a lack of confidence. He is an impressive 27-1 with 26 knockouts (though Boxrec.com and Fight Fax don’t recognize two of those KO victories). Aside for a lone knockout defeat, when he mistakenly dropped his hands in a title fight with Travis Sims, he’s been very consistent as his record, whatever it may be, is.
“I know that (Rivera) is a fighter that comes forward,” said Garcia. “I like to come forward too. I have been doing a lot of sparring and I think no matter what, the fight is going to be a (slugfest). I think I am a little bit stronger than him and I will win by knockout.”
Regardless of what happens to Rivera, he is finally getting his shot at the spotlight. Both of his previous title fights were not televised by American television, where as tomorrow night’s show will be not only in his hometown, but featured on Showtime.
“This is an exciting fight and an exciting time for me. Every time you fight in your hometown, the atmosphere adds just more to the excitement already going on. It is just exciting to be able to fight in front of my fans and in front of my family with them rooting and cheering you on. It just gives you that extra boost and adrenaline rush. But as far as added pressure, I do not feel I have any added pressure coming into the fight.” “I am not looking past Garcia at all, but definitely it is my dream to capture the super welterweight championship because that, in itself will catapult me back into the big picture, facing one of those big names. All I need to do is focus on the Garcia fight and the rest will handle itself.”
The pick here is with Rivera to win by decision. Hopefully, for Rivera’s sake, this claim is not another case of me sticking my foot in my mouth.
Those who are contemplating attending the great fight card at the DCU Center rather than stay at home and watch either this event or the PVP match of De La Hoya and Mayorga should think of two technologies: Tivo or the VCR. My motto is never miss a live show. Tickets priced at $35, $50, $100 and $250 are on sale at the DCU Center Box Office, all area Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at (617) 931-2000 or (617) 228-6000. All tickets are subject to a $.50 facility fee.
The Garcia vs. Rivera main event on the Dynamite at the DCU card, promoted by Don King, will be broadcast live on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
