Tag Archives: Yvon Michel

Eleider Alvarez’s Bout Against Joe Smith Jr. Rescheduled for Late August

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Eleider Alvarez will have to wait a little longer to return to the ring…

The light heavyweight bout between the 36-year-old Colombian professional boxer and Joe Smith Jr. has been rescheduled for the third week of August, according to Alvarez’s promoter Yvon Michel. 

Eleider Alvarez

The fight had originally been scheduled for July 16 inside the “bubble” at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, but was postponed when Alvarez suffered an injury to his right shoulder.

“I sent a medical report on Alvarez’s situation early last week confirming that the inflammation is gone after treatment, the pain is minimum,” Michel said. “He’s going to start sparring next week, everything is under control. He’s fit and ready to fight by mid-August.

“So the message I got from Top Rank is that the fight will be rescheduled for some time between August 20 and August 22, depending on the schedule.”

According to Top Rank vice president of boxing operation Carl Moretti, the plan is to stage one fight a week inside the “bubble” in the month of August, but the exact dates of haven’t been chosen.

“It’s not ideal, it’s not what we wanted,” said Joe DeGuardia, who promotes Smith. “We think it’s unfortunate it got pushed back in the first place, however, we’re realists. I just want this fight to take place, and we’re going to do what we have to do to get Joe ready and have this fight.”

Alvarez (25-1, 13 KOs) is rated at No. 6 by ESPN and held the WBO light heavyweight title after knocking out Sergey Kovalev in 2018. Back on January 18 he scored a seventh-round knockout of Micheal Seals. Alvarez also has victories over Isaac Chilemba, Lucien Bute and Jean Pascal.

Smith (25-3, 20 KOs) is rated ninth in the division by ESPN. Back in 2016 he gained prominence as he scored stoppage wins over Andrezej Fonfara and Bernard Hopkins. In his most recent fight on January 11, Smith defeated Jesse Hart in an upset by split decision.

The winner of this bout will then face the winner of the contest between Umar Salamov and Maksim Vlasov, as part of an elimination process to fill the WBO light heavyweight title, which is currently vacant.

Oscar Rivas Signs Multi-Fight Contract with Top Rank

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Oscar Rivas is headed to the Top…

The 32-year-old Colombian professional boxer has signed a multi-fight co-promotional contract with Top Rank.

Oscar Rivas

“Top Rank is in the heavyweight business, and we are pleased to be partnering with Yvon Michel to help Oscar get to the next level,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said. “He fits right in the heavyweight picture and has the skills and toughness to compete against anyone in the division.”

Rivas, who’ll continue to be co-promoted by Michel, doesn’t have his next fight set, but it’ll take place later this year on an ESPN platform.

“I am very proud and excited to join forces with Top Rank. I thank Top Rank for believing in me,” Rivas said. “I also want to thank my manager, Stephane Lepine, and my promoter, Yvon Michel, for their leadership and guidance from the beginning of my career.”

Rivas (26-1, 18 KOs), 32, was a 2008 Colombian Olympian but has boxed out of Montreal since turning pro in 2009. He notched his biggest win in January 2019 when he stopped former world title challenger Bryant Jenningsin the 12th round in Verona, New York.

In his next fight, for a vacant interim heavyweight world title, Rivas traveled to London and lost a competitive unanimous decision to Dillian Whyte, whom he knocked down in the ninth round. However, the fight was tainted in controversy because Whyte had been allowed to fight by British regulators despite having tested positive for a banned substance, which the Rivas team had not been informed of.

“I am still a bit bitter over the circumstances surrounding my last fight in London against Dillian Whyte, and I hope that one day we will fight a rematch on an even playing field,” Rivas said.

“As for Dillian, I know he will do all he can to avoid this, but nothing will ever stop me from becoming a world champion. I am ready to take on any challenge.”

Rivas joins a Top Rank heavyweight stable that also includes lineal champion Tyson Fury, Kubrat Pulev, Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, Agit Kabayel, Carlos Takam and prospects Guido Vianello, Sonny Contoand Jared Anderson. As an amateur, Rivas scored victories against Pulev and former unified world titleholder Andy Ruiz Jr.

“Oscar Rivas is ready to send a strong message, as he has the style to beat any heavyweight on any given day,” said Michel.