Yankiel Rivera is armed with a new team as he enters the contender stage of his fast-rising career.
The unbeaten flyweight has inked a promotional pact with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the company confirmed on Friday to BoxingScene. Rivera, 7-0 (3 KOs) – Puerto Rico’s lone boxer to participate in the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics – will make his debut under the banner later this summer as a title shot is already well within reach.
“I believe everything happens for a reason,” Rivera told BoxingScene in a provided statement. “I firmly believe MVP is the company that will take me to the very next level.”
Rivera is guided by Peter Kahn, the 2022 BWAA Manager of the Year, and trains under Javiel Centeno out of South Florida.
The 27-year-old from Bayamon, Puerto Rico is the number-one ranked flyweight with the WBA, and number five with the WBC. Both titles are held by Japan’s Kenshiro Teraji. Rivera is also the number seven contender to the WBO belt held by Anthony Olascuaga.
Rivera has quickly advanced since his September 2022 pro debut. It’s hardly a surprise given his standout amateur career, where he carried a 133-14 record and twice represented P.R. in the World Amateur Championships (2017 and 2021).
His pro-friendly style made for a seamless transition. Rivera was moved into ten-round affairs by just his fifth pro contest and has already claimed three regional titles.
Each of his past two starts have taken place on his home P.R. island, as he fittingly joins an MVP roster packed with Boricua talent. Chief among the group is record-setting, seven-division champ and company stakeholder Amanda Serrano, who will play an integral role in Rivera’s forthcoming career development.
“Yankiel’s signing is a natural extension of our mission at MVP to identify and elevate the next generation of Puerto Rican boxing talent,” noted Serrano. “I was so proud to watch him represent our small but mighty island as Puerto Rico’s lone boxing Olympian in Tokyo.
“Just two years later, he made his mark on the undercard of my historic fight against Erika Cruz—when I became Puerto Rico’s first Undisputed champion. It’s an honor to welcome Yankiel to the team. I can’t wait to continue building the Boricua boxing legacy together.”
Added company co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian: “MVP is a global company, but the heart and soul of our success is Puerto Rico based. Yankiel Rivera is one of the most exciting rising stars in boxing and a strong addition to our rapidly growing MVP roster.
“As the island’s sole boxing representative at the Tokyo Olympics, he carried Puerto Rico’s legacy on the global stage—and he’s continued that momentum with an undefeated pro career and multiple titles. With Yankiel now joining Amanda Serrano, Jan Paul Rivera, Krystal Rosado, and Alexis Chaparro, we’re proud to continue building a powerful foundation of Puerto Rican talent at MVP. We’re deeply committed to the island’s boxing future, and we can’t wait to showcase Yankiel’s brilliance this summer.”
Rivera’s most recent ring appearance came in a fourth-round knockout of unbeaten Angel Gonzalez last December 7 in San Juan, P.R. He’d gone the distance in his previous four starts – twice each over eight and ten round – before taking care of taking care of business in front of his adoring local fans.
His signing with MVP leaves ‘El Doctorito’ even more convinced that the sky’s the limit.
“This is an additional motivation for my next fight. Nobody is stopping me. And I am convinced MVP is the perfect choice to take me to a world championship. I want to thank MVP, my Manager, Peter Kahn, for making this happening. Thank you, Jake Paul for giving me a chance.”