Adrian Hernandez Faces Janiel Rivera on 2/8 In Mexico

By Jake Donovan

Reigning junior flyweight titlist Adrian Hernandez will return to the ring February 8 in Mexico, defending his title versus Puerto Rico’s Janiel Rivera.

The fight will take place at a yet-to-be-determined venue in Mexico, and will air live on Televisa.

Hernandez (28-2-1, 17KO) makes the fourth defense of his second reign as 108 lb. titlist, regaining the belt with a revenge-fueled 6th round knockout of Kompayak Porpramook in Oct. ’12. The one-sided win avenged his title loss on the road in Thailand ten months prior, suffering a 10th round knockout in what was hailed one of the best fights of 2011.

The bout marks his first fight of 2014, having last defended with a 4th round knockout of Atsushi Kakutani last August. 

Rivera (10-1-2, 6KO) boasts a relatively thin résumé, with his lone loss coming against a sub .500 fighter last July in his native Puerto Rico. The bout marks his first title fight and his second in Mexico, his previous trip coming in Dec. 2012. The 22-year old fights under the Promociones Miguel Cotto banner, an affiliation the defending champion believes is his opponent’s best attribute.

“We know Rivera is a dangerous fighter, a young fighter with many skills and part of Miguel Cotto’s team. None of that makes me lose sleep,” Hernandez claims. “As champion, I am ready for all changes. We are going to do this on February 8 and, with the support of the Mexican public, I will give my country another victory in the longtime sports rivalry with Puerto Rico.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America.

Twitter: @JakeNDaBox