Fight Highlights | Yankiel Rivera vs. Angel Gonzalez

It was a beautiful day here in Puerto Rico. As you look at the shoreline and you look at the tail of the tape, identical in terms of the reach. You see Angel Gonzalez coming in comfortably beneath the one hundred and twelve pound limit. These two match up very well physically. But again, that amateur pedigree of Yanquiel Rivera. Will it prove to be the difference in this one? Ready to meet the fighters. Let's send it back up to David Diamante. OK, guys, I give you instruction in the dressing room. They're having a clean match, OK? Good luck. Go Blecho. Ya le di la instruccion en el camerino. Vamos a una pelea limpia y que ganen mejor. Suerte. Dios los bendiga. Chris, what was the budget for Yanquiel Rivera's entrance? Did he go up the highway and borrow Jake Paul's robot? You know, I haven't seen the robot since Jake Paul has been bringing him into the ring. But a nice touch for Yanquiel Rivera, who, look, is a star here in Puerto Rico. The only fighter to represent Puerto Rico, the men's division, the 2020 Olympics, and now really knocking on the door of a world championship at 112 pounds. Round one underway. Yanquiel Rivera and Angel Gonzalez. A collection of regional titles on the line here, including the WBC silver title, which would certainly move the winner of this one way up in the rankings. I got to be honest, Corey, I've never heard someone introduced with three versions of the minor title. Sure. Yeah, that was that was the first, hopefully the last. Rivera already upping the pressure here, taking a step to the inside. But that's a nice body shot from Angel Gonzalez, who's taking a colossal step up in opposition here tonight. Chris, as you know, being from the New England area, not a lot of flyweights in that region to be matched up against if you're building a 112 pounder there. No, there isn't. Gonzalez is throwing that lead right hand, which is the punch you need to throw against a southpaw, but he does it, leaving his feet behind. So he's actually becoming a bigger target by not taking his feet with him. See that? Look, when he throws the right hand, if he leaves his feet behind, which is punching over his feet. Very bad habit to do it, your Angel Gonzalez. You will get clipped and countered hard with that bad technique. Rivera ranked 13th by the WBA. That's his highest ranking right now for Saigo Yuriyukui holding that title. So perhaps a date in Japan to be in the future for Rivera if he can stay in the win column. Things are looking good right now. Mahoney, you've called those Japanese fights before. OK, so yes, no, quite a few. Well, say the big fight, though, for Yankee Rivera, if he can get his hands on a world title is Galalya Fai. We just saw Galalya Fai in action this past week getting the win over Sonny Edwards. He's looking to win a title of his own. The WBC title, I think, is the one he's going to go for next. If these two guys get their hands on belts in the next 12 months, that will be a huge fight at the end of next year. You see that physical strength of Rivera just shoving Gonzalez off, opening up the lane for more of these body shots. Rivera is ravaging the body of Gonzalez already in the opening six minutes of this contest. You saw that too. Gonzalez doesn't have quick feet. He has bad balance, he squares up and then he punches over his feet. Those are all bad habits. Nice hustle here from Gonzalez. Pulls some shots together, but he just ate him out from behind. Rivera blocking those shots, playing fast, looking for the right shot. Not thought he'd be able to punch his head. Are you all right, Gonzalez? You want to go get him? Let's go. It looked like Yankee Rivera was just setting Gonzalez up for that punch, just eating some of those right hands so he could respond with a counter shot of his own. No respect for Gonzalez's power or any punches being landed. Tremendous catch and shoot right hook from Yankee Al Rivera, who's looking for the knockout here in the third round. There's still a little weariness in the legs and the body language of Angel Gonzalez right now, and that's the reason Rivera's still applying that physical pressure, that mental pressure staying on him, forcing Gonzalez to make a mistake. Which is what you should do until the referee breaks you up. I love that. That's inside fighting at its best. One free arm, you punch with that one free arm. Sergio, you can elaborate on this, but especially with super talented fighters like Rivera, that's the perfect example of giving it and taking away. That's the way it is. That's what a beautiful punch he does. And great body punch right there by Rivera. There's the left hand. There he goes. The body work that began in the opening moments of the fight might have already caught up with Angel Gonzalez. Yeah, the body language of Gonzalez is not good right now. For a minute left to go in this round. Gonzalez, I think, tries to fake off. And that is it. Yankee Al Rivera, the Puerto Rican bomber, gets it. That was a statement win here by the Puerto Rican. Yankee Al Rivera was going to knock out the undefeated Angel Gonzalez tonight. And it just so happened to happen on his feet. Ladies and gentlemen, referee Luis Pavon stopped the fight at 2 minutes and 14 seconds for his winner by technical knockout, and still undefeated, Torcito Rivera!