By Jake Donovan
The in-country rivalry between Mexican flyweights Julian Rivera and Edgar Jimenez will continue with their announced rematch on September 28 in Mexico City.
Telemundo will televise the event, as was the case in their furiously fought affair this past July, in which Rivera edged out a split decision win.
“The first fight was so close, that the WBC ordered an immediate rematch,” informed Tuto Zabala, whose All-Star Boxing promotional company serves as the lead promoter for Boxeo Telemundo events.
Rivera (12-6, 2KO) took advantage of a slow start offered by Jimenez, jumping out an early lead and then fending off a late rally in preserving the win. The bout was not without its strange moments; Rivera had Jimenez badly hurt and on the verge of a stoppage late in the 10th round, only for the referee to separate the fighters before allowing action to resume.
The sequence nearly cost Rivera the fight, as Jimenez rallied hard in the final two rounds to win on one card but come up short in the eyes of the other two judges.
Less than three months later, the two – both of whom hail from Mexico City – get to do battle again.
Rivera has won two straight in a 2012 campaign that has proven to be a successful rebuilding year.
Jimenez (15-7-1, 11KO) has lost his past two contests after an impressive 2011 campaign that saw wins over Eric Ortiz and Juanito Rubillar.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
