By Jake Donovan

Rafael Rivera understands the public perception of his stepping in as a late replacement to face Leo Santa Cruz this weekend. He also gets why it immediately conjures up memories of his facing Joseph Diaz Jr. on very short notice just 16 months ago.

It doesn’t mean he’s interested in a career as a pinch hitter.

“Obviously I’m a fighter who’s willing to take on all challenges; I just don’t want the reputation of the fighter who’s here to save your show,” Rivera (26-2-2, 17KOs) explained to BoxingScene.com ahead of this weekend’s title fight. “Those guys just show up for a paycheck. I'm no gun for hire; I'm here to take Leo Santa Cruz's featherweight title.”

Rivera jumped at the opportunity to face Santa Cruz once originally scheduled Miguel Flores was forced to withdraw after an ankle injury which bruised all the way down to the bone. The 24-year old contender from Tijuana, Mexico will receive his first crack at a major title in Saturday’s Fox-televised headliner, live from Microsoft Center in Los Angeles, California.

A world of confidence accompanies his ride, although not a lot of momentum. A 1st round knockout on a Thompson’s Boxing club show last October interrupted a two-fight losing streak dating back to his Sept. ’17 meeting bout with Diaz Jr.

Rivera replaced Jorge Lara just four days ahead of fight night, dropping a wide decision in his first career defeat. There wasn’t much reward offered for putting his unbeaten record on the line under such circumstances, as he wouldn’t fight again for another 10 months.

His fight with unbeaten prospect Joet Gonzalez last July was far more indicative of his capabilities when given sufficient time to prepare—even if the judges weren’t quite as cooperative as he dropped a competitive and disputed split decision.

“The fight with Jo Jo Diaz, that was a different scenario than is the case here,” insists Rivera. “I took the fight with not much time to prepare for him and did my best under the circumstances. This fight happened to fit into my plans since I was already in the gym planning to return to the ring in March.

“It also works because Leo’s style reminds me a lot of Joet Gonzalez, who I know I beat. The judges didn’t do their job that night, but I know I did. And I will do my job on Saturday night. I know what Leo brings to the table and am ready for this dream opportunity.”

Fighting for a featherweight title is something that Rivera has envisioned since turning pro nearly seven years ago. His weight has only slightly fluctuated but has mostly campaigned in the 126-pound division.

The first time he officially appeared on the contender radar was after his 10-round upset win over second-generation boxer and former 122-pound titlist Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in Dec. ’15. Rivera never relented in the fight, settling for a split decision only due to one out-of-whack scorecard.

It remains by far the most significant win of his career, although he has every intention of changing that perception this weekend.

“We won’t know if Leo has been able to adapt to my style until the opening bell rings on Saturday, but I know I’m more than ready for him,” promises Rivera. “An opportunity to win the title is something every boxer dreams of. It’s why I always stay ready in the gym. I was only 10-12 pounds over featherweight when I got this career a few weeks ago.

“This opportunity may be short notice, but my training camp began long before that. I’m always in top shape, I do my road work every day and have always been responsible with my weight whether or not a fight is scheduled. This is something I’ve wanted for and have been ready for a long time. If Leo’s not ready for me or looking past me for “bigger” fights, then he’s going to be in for a very long night on Saturday, one that won’t end well for him.”

Saturday’s title fight tops a televised tripleheader live on Fox. The co-feature pits unbeaten Omar Figueroa Jr. versus battle-tested veteran John Molina Jr, while unbeaten prospects Sebastian Fondura and Donnie Marshall collide in an eight-round bout to open the telecast.