Yankiel “El Doctorcito” Rivera (6-0, 2 KOs) will take on Angel “Set it Off” Gonzalez (14-0, 7 KOs) on Saturday, December 7, at the Roberto Clemente Coliseo in San Juan, Puerto Rico, live worldwide on DAZN, with Rivera's WBA Continental Americas and WBO Intercontinental flyweight titles on the line in addition to the vacant WBC Silver flyweight title. The bout is part of a huge night of action brought to you by Matchroom Boxing and Universal Promotions, headlined by Liam Paro defending his IBF world junior-welterweight title against Richardson Hitchins. Rivera vs. Gonzalez is promoted in association with CES Boxing.
The 27-year-old Rivera is handily placed in the rankings at #3 with the WBA, #9 with the WBC and #11 with the WBO, and fights at home for the second time in 2024 having seen off the experienced Victor Sandoval over ten rounds in June in Manati, defending the WBA strap and adding the WBO belt.
‘Doctorcito’ will be looking to rubber stamp his world title credentials for a shot in 2025, but Gonzalez is determined to spoil those plans in the biggest fight of his career. Gonzalez, a Hartford, Connecticut native of Puerto Rican descent, won the NABF flyweight title in June and can catapult himself into world title contention with a victory over Rivera in December. The 31-year-old is currently ranked #22 with the WBC.
“The goal for which I embarked on this wonderful journey full of hope is closer than ever,” said Rivera. “By now, there are no easy fights, and each fight gets me closer to that cherished and long-awaited opportunity for a world title. On December 7, I will be putting my titles on the line, but I will also be disputing the WBC Silver title.
“This victory will propel me right at the door of that world title opportunity, and there is no better place to do this than in front of my people at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum. Angel González is a dangerous opponent and has all my respect. But I was born to become champion of the world and no one, absolutely no one, will stop me short of my destiny.
“I want to give special thanks to Matchroom, my manager Peter Kahn and my adviser Miguel Ortega, who have, without reservations, put their trust in me. I will not let you down. See you all on December 7 where the great one's fight: the Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rico!”
“This fight means everything to me,” said Gonzalez. “It puts me one fight closer to my goal of becoming a world champion. The best thing about it is, I'm fighting in my island of Puerto Rico. I was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, but Puerto Rico will always be my home. My roots, just like my opponents’ are here.
“The boxing energy in Puerto Rico is unparalleled and it will give me more confidence and motivation to show all my people how great I am. I can’t wait for the opportunity. I want to thank CES Boxing and my promoter Jimmy Burchfield, Sr. for making this happen. I won’t let you guys down. See you December 7.”
After being announced on the card in June, Marc Castro and Stephanie Pineiro have confirmed opponents for the night, with Castro (13-0 8 KOs) tackling Agustin Quintana (20-1-2 13 KOs) over ten rounds at lightweight, and Pineiro (7-0 2 KOs) meeting Ogleidis Suarez (30-5-1 14 KOs) over eight rounds welterweight.
Those clashes are part of a stacked undercard that is led by a mouth-watering super-featherweight clash between Henry Lebron and Christopher Diaz.
Lebron (19-0 10 KOs) returns to his homeland for the first time in five years and does so in the biggest night of his career, as the #4 in the IBF looks to press his claims for world title action in 2025 with a big win over a domestic rival and pick up the vacant IBF Latino and WBO NABO titles in the process. Diaz (29-5 19 KOs) sits pretty at #7 in the WBA, has already tasted world title action and is hungry to do so again, and ‘Pitufo’ puts his WBA Continental Latin America title on the line in a pivotal clash for the immediate futures of both.
Jalil Hackett will aim to show once again that he has no fear in the infancy of his career as he travels to Puerto Rico for a title defense. Hackett (9-0 7 KOs) was impressive in a big step up to win the WBA Continental Americas welterweight title on his Matchroom debut against Peter Dobson in July, and ‘Major’ will defend that title in another real test against Puerto Rico’s former amateur standout Jose Roman (13-1 6 KOs)
Puerto Rico’s Juan Zayas (10-0-1 8 KOs) takes on Dominican Geraldo Valdez (16-2 11 KOs) over eight rounds at bantamweight and Matchroom’s Puerto Rican talent William Ortiz (6-0 4 KOs) faces fellow unbeaten Puerto Rican Lionell Colon (6-0 3 KOs) over eight rounds at super-lightweight.