Rising boxing star Michel Rivera suffered the first defeat of his professional career, but it was his fight attire that caught the eye of spectators.
The 23-year-old Dominican boxer, who previously made headlines for his resemblance to a young Muhammad Ali, was knocked down and beaten by Martin in their December 2022 bout.
Rivera’s boxing career had been on a steady upward trajectory, with 14 straight wins in his home country before making the switch to the U.S. market. His striking resemblance to the legendary Ali, paired with a one-punch knockout victory over Jon Fernandez, had earned him significant attention and the nickname “Ali.”
“Everyone around me claims that I resemble a young Cassius Clay, who of course became Muhammad Ali,” Rivera explained to BoxingScene. “My coach [German Caicedo] always told me that from day one and it just stuck.”
However, Rivera’s attempt to emulate the iconic fighter’s style and flair was not enough to overcome the skills of his opponent. Martin dominated the bout, knocking Rivera down in the seventh round and securing a decisive victory with scores of 120-107, 118-109, and 117-110.
To make matters worse, Rivera’s woes continued as he tested positive for PEDs after the bout, resulting in a six-month suspension from the sport.
Despite the setback, Rivera has since returned to the ring with a win over Sergey Lipinets in late 2023. He is now set to face Hugo Alberto Roldan on July 27 as he looks to rebuild his momentum and recapture the attention he garnered with his Muhammad Ali-inspired persona.
Meanwhile, Martin’s undefeated streak was short-lived, as he was recently knocked out by Gervonta Davis. The boxing world will be watching to see if Rivera can bounce back and reclaim his status as a rising star in the lightweight division.
