Michel Rivera is ready for his ring return on Friday and hopes it leads to future high-profile fights.
The junior welterweight of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, faces Nestor Luna Alonso in a 10-round bout in his home country.
Rivera, 26-1 (14 KOs), will end a 14-month stretch of inactivity when he returns to the ring.
“I am excited to get active,” Rivera, 27, told BoxingScene. “I am hoping to get a fight in the United States at the end of the year or the start of next year. That is the plan.”
Rivera's upcoming goal is to knock off the ring rust and then see if a major fight with a titleholder is possible. Rivera previously held world rankings, but inactivity has moved him out of a top-15 ranking. He is not targeting a specific name or titleholder, but Rivera, now on a two-fight win streak since his loss to Frank Martin, is aiming at facing the division's best once he gets active.
“I am open to face anyone who has a belt or a big name,” Rivera said. “I don’t care who it is.”
Rivera now trains in Las Vegas with Ismael Salas. Alonso, 24, enters on a five-fight win streak dating back to February 2024. Alonso of Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico, has never been stopped as a professional. Regardless, Rivera said that he didn’t cut corners in this camp.
“I am ready for whatever type of win, whether it is a knockout win or a decision win,” Rivera said. “I did all the rounds I had to do.”
