Michel ‘La Zarza’ Rivera is still prepared to take that quantum leap from rising prospect to title contender.
In fact, neither he nor his trainer have ever left the gym.
“We’re just waiting for all of this to be over,” Herman Caicedo, Rivera’s trainer told BoxingScene.com. “Once everyone can fight again–we were supposed to fight in April, so hopefully we’ll be among the first ones back in the ring.
“I can promise you this—we will be ready no matter when they tell us to fight. All fighters like to say it, but we're still living that life every day.”
Rivera (18-0, 12KOs) is among a handful of boxers literally living in Caicedo’s Miami-based sports complex which carries eight bedroom suites, one of which is occupied by the trainer himself.
The unbeaten lightweight from Miami by way of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic has remained put even after the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused the postponement of his planned April 18 title eliminator versus Mexico’s Marcos Villasana Jr. (25-6, 14KOs). Rivera joins heavyweights Cassius Chaney (18-0, 12KOs) and Carlos Negron (21-3, 17KOs), along with rising super middleweight Habib Ahmed (27-1-1, 18KOs) in the complex, with all practicing social distancing within their separate training sessions.
It doesn’t make for ideal sparring, but nevertheless keeps everyone ready for when that phone call comes.
“The few of us that live here have everything that we need,” Rivera told BoxingScene.com. “Coach saw something coming right around the time of my last fight (a 10th round knockout of Fidel Maldonado Jr. on February 1) and stocked up the gym for us with essentials and food.
“He also moved in with us, so we're all living in the gym riding this out together. I will be ready when things are lifted.”
While Rivera is among the fortunate ones to have already fought this year, having to wait on the title eliminator was a bit of a letdown. The blue-chip lightweight has been away from his family for most of the year, along with training through his 22nd birthday.
Through the short-term letdown comes the belief that it will lead to long-term gain.
“I am a bit disappointed because my big fight was in line,” notes Rivera. “And I was ready for my time. But sometimes things happen—and I don’t believe in coincidence.
“It’s a greater reason why this happened. So therefore, I don’t stress over what I can’t control.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox