Former three-time world champion in two different divisions and Worcester, MA’s own “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera (41-6-1, 24 KOs) is ready to step up into some big fights in 2012. 

The former IBO welterweight, WBA welterweight and WBA junior middleweight world champion, Rivera is a promotional free agent and is also acting as his own manager.  He is looking for a major fight in 2012 that will get him back into the world title picture, and is looking to align himself with a promoter that can make it happen.  Rivera is hoping to get one more fight under his belt before stepping up to challenge anybody in the top ten in the junior middleweight division.

“El Gallo” captured his first world championship, the IBO welterweight title, back in 1997 near his hometown in Springfield, MA with a second round stoppage of Gilberto Flores.  In 2003, Rivera, in what many believe to be one of his career defining fights, won the WBA welterweight world title by defeating Michael Trabant in his own backyard of Berlin, Germany.  His third world championship was another WBA world title, this time as a junior middleweight when he defeated Alejandro “Terra” Garcia in his hometown of Worcester, MA in 2006.

 

Ten Count Media released in the statement, “We are very excited to have to have “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera as a client, as he works towards his fourth world championship.  He has the power, skills, and ring generalship to obtain his goal of a fourth world title, and we are thrilled to be able to be a part of Team Rivera.”

The 38 year old Rivera is (3-0) in his last three fights and (2-0) after a two and a half year hiatus.  He fought for the first time since 2008 this past May on a Paxton Promotions fight card where he won a convincing unanimous decision over Connecticut’s Luis Maysonet. The other fight back in July featured Rivera in a tune-up fight as he shut out Paul Mpendo over eight rounds on a Classic Entertainment and Sports promoted event.

When asked for a comment in regards to him becoming a promotional free agent and why he is back boxing again, the former three-time world champion, Rivera said, “I am very excited to be back in fight mode. I took time off from boxing because of personal and boxing issues, injuries, and frankly, boxing just wasn’t fun anymore.”

“The time away from boxing helped me heal mentally and physically and it allowed me to fall in love with the sport again. I missed the optimal training, competing at a world championship level and being around my team. I feel strong and healthy which is the only reason why I am doing this again."

“I am a young 38, but I am also not planning on breaking Hopkins record.  I have a short window and my hope is to capitalize on the opportunities that come my way.  I am driven by success and motivated to succeed no matter what the odds.  Now I have this challenge in front of me and I hope I can find some interest in a champion willing to risk their title against a former world champion and veteran such as myself.”