It hadn’t hit Angelino Cordova until Thursday afternoon, when he came face to face with Yankiel Rivera at their final press conference. As they posed for photos, Cordova studied his face and recalled where they had first crossed paths, nearly a decade earlier. The two boxers had been part of the 2016 Olympic qualifiers in Argentina, losing on the same day in the 108lbs quarterfinals. Had they won their respective fights, they would have met in the semifinals, with an Olympic spot at stake.
Instead, their unanimous decision losses that day sent them down different paths. Cordova elected to turn professional the following year in his native Venezuela, while Rivera hung around another five years in the amateurs and eventually made his Olympic dream come true in Tokyo.
They will finally have their long-awaited meet-up this Saturday with another meaningful prize at stake. The two will clash at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, with the vacant WBA interim flyweight title on the line. The 12-round bout, which is promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, will headline a card that will air live on DAZN.
Cordova, who is fighting on a card organized by his opponent’s promoter, says he doesn’t mind being the underdog in this fight. He says that role has served him well in the past, including his upset wins over Axel Vega in 2022 and former titleholder Angel Acosta in 2023.
“I love being the underdog,” said the 29-year-old Cordova, 19-0-1 (12 KOs). “Not that it brings less pressure for me, but it puts a lot of pressure on the favorite.”
The fight with Rivera, 7-0 (3 KOs), is a second opportunity for Cordova to pick up a major title. Cordova got his first shot at a world title in March of 2024, when he faced Julio Cesar Martinez for his WBC flyweight title. Despite being knocked down twice in the third round, Cordova got off the canvas to make the fight close towards the end, initially losing a majority decision. That decision was changed to a no-contest after Martinez’s urine test came back positive for three banned substances. Martinez was stripped of the belt, but instead of Cordova getting an opportunity to fight for the vacant belt, the title was instead contested later that year in Japan, with Kenshiro Teraji stopping Cristofer Rosales in 11 rounds.
“‘Rey' Martinez disrespected the sport because he took drugs to gain an advantage against me,” said Cordova. “I’m mad because that would have made me a world champ directly. I should have gotten the title fight next.”
Instead, Cordova would remain out of the ring until the end of 2024, but the layoff turned out to be a blessing of sorts. Later that year, Cordova was seeking an upgrade to his training team, so his manager, Oscar Navarro, reached out to the well-connected Marcelino Castillo, who put them in touch with highly regarded trainer Ismael Salas. Cordova traveled to Las Vegas and linked up with Salas, and later became the main sparring partner for Kazuto Ioka ahead of his junior bantamweight title unification bout with Fernando Martinez.
Cordova fought his first fight under Salas’ guidance last December, when he outpointed Josue Morales in Puerto Rico.
“I was able to work and improve on my technique [with Salas], and I feel good working with him,” said Cordova.
Boxing has long been in Cordova’s blood. Born in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, Cordova is one of nine children born to Angel Cordova, who fought professionally from 1981 to 1994, fighting in the United States, France and Colombia, and compiling a record of 9-6-1 (3 KOs) while facing the likes of former WBA lightweight champion Juan Nazario and two-time world title challenger Hugo Pineda.
The younger Cordova was first trained by his father, and had a reported amateur record of 130-13 while fighting in Cuba, Mexico, Poland, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Among his opponents was two-time Olympic gold medalist Hasanboy Dusmatov, who beat him by decision in 2015.
Cordova turned pro in 2017 and kept a very busy schedule, fighting 16 times in his first two years as a pro. But his career was nearly cut short when, while out for his morning run in February 2019, he was shot in the leg by a gunman on a motorcycle during a robbery attempt. Cordova survived, but the injuries he sustained sidelined him for two years. Unable to fight and earn a paycheck, Cordova took a bus to Peru to work, and stayed there for a year before returning to Venezuela.
“He had several surgeries, so he was in a wheelchair, he had to recover. He was limping, had several tendons and muscle problems,” said Ediscon Aviles, his former manager.
“He couldn’t run, he couldn’t box, he couldn’t do anything. He spoke to someone from the athletic commission, and they helped him with the surgery, which is why he was in a wheelchair for months. He had to do physical therapy, and he couldn’t walk for a while.”
After Cordova recovered from his injuries, Aviles says he traveled to Mexico to await a visa to go to the United States. He soon grew impatient, and elected to cross over the border wall, cutting his hand on the razor wire in the process. He surrendered to immigration agents and was held in a detention center for a week before being released. He was eventually granted asylum and traveled to Tennessee, where he worked as a dishwasher at a restaurant for several months before accepting Aviles’ invitation to come to New Jersey. There, he lived in the weight room at Park Elite Boxing in Roselle Park, New Jersey, before finally earning enough money to move into his own apartment after beating Vega in 2022. Cordova hasn’t forgotten that hospitality, as he invited Park Elite’s owner – and his first trainer in the U.S. – Percy Gayanilo to work as the cutman for this fight.
It isn’t lost on Cordova how lucky he is to be where he is now.
“Only God knows what kind of sacrifices and details in life had held me back. But now I’m here and I have a great opportunity, and I’m very grateful,” said Cordova at Thursday’s press conference.
Rivera didn’t have a bad amateur career himself. The 27-year-old boxed against future world champions Elwin Soto and Oscar Collazo and finally made it to the Olympics in his second cycle, losing a split decision to eventual bronze medalist Saken Bibossinov in the 2020 Games. Cordova will be the fourth undefeated fighter faced by Rivera, who has won decisions over Christian Robles and Andy Dominguez and, in his most recent fight, stopping Angel Gonzalez in four rounds. Aside from having the Jake Paul-led Most Valuable Promotions behind him, Rivera is trained by Javiel Centeno and works with Boxing Writers Association of America 2022 Manager of the Year Peter Kahn.
Cordova understands the challenge in front of him. He also understands what effect this opportunity can have on his life – plus those of his wife and three children.
“I don’t underestimate any of my opponents. I’m not gonna say that I’m gonna respect him … but I’m definitely here to do what I need to do,” said Cordova.
“This fight will change my life completely. I can be a world champion.”
