Abraham Perez Returns to Albuquerque, Defends WBA Interim Belt Against Yankiel Rivera

WBA interim flyweight world champion Abraham Perez will defend his belt for the first time in a duel against Yankiel Rivera at the Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque, on Saturday, November 7. The fight will be broadcast live by DAZN starting at 20.00 ET or 18.00 local time. For Perez, this is not just another fight, but a testament to the mental and physical resilience that nearly took everything from him two years ago.

In August 2024, Perez was involved in a near-drowning incident that almost claimed his life, just eight days before his biggest scheduled fight in Albuquerque. He was in a coma and was diagnosed as possibly never being able to walk again. However, the 27-year-old boxer rose again, returned to the ring in 2025, and last June captured the interim WBA title after defeating reigning champion Jonathan Gonzalez. Now, with a perfect record of 15-0 (7 KO), Perez is determined to follow in the footsteps of Albuquerque legends such as Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero, who were also lower-weight champions and icons of the city.

Rivera, who hails from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, is no ordinary opponent. The 29-year-old boxer was Puerto Rico's sole representative at the 2020 Olympics and compiled an amateur record of 133-14. Since turning professional in 2022, he has moved quickly and even challenged for the interim WBA title in his eighth fight, though he only managed a draw with Angelino Cordova. His loss to Gonzalez in the following bout became motivation instead. Rivera comes to Albuquerque after scoring a first-round KO victory over Francisco Vargas Martinez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, last Friday.

Perez is aware of the immense pressure of performing in front of his own crowd. "Most athletes dream of being in my position right now—defending a belt in their hometown," he said. "I did not let what happened stop my dream of becoming a world champion. I could have quit boxing or swimming, but it is optimism, fighting spirit, and love for the sport that keep me going." He stressed that he is not trying to be Tapia or Romero, but the best version of himself.

On the other side, Rivera stressed that defeat does not define him. "You will see a Yankiel Rivera who is 100 percent—focused, ready, and fully motivated," he said. "I see this fight as a chance to beat the man who beat me. A win will prove that I belong among the elite boxers in the 112-pound division."

Albuquerque has a long history as a boxing city that produced lower-weight champions such as Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero. Perez's presence at the top of the interim WBA flyweight division has revived boxing passion in a city that had gone quiet after the pandemic. Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions, stated that his mission is to reignite that spirit. "Albuquerque is one of the legendary boxing cities in America," he said. "We are proud to showcase a local world champion, Abraham Perez, alongside talented boxers from great gyms in Albuquerque."

Legacy Boxing Promotions, which is cooperating on this event, stressed their commitment to restoring New Mexico as a destination for prestigious fights. "From the start, our goal has been to put New Mexico back on the map as a destination for championship boxing," said Aaron Perez and Gabriel Carlin of Legacy Promotions. "We asked Abraham what he wanted after his last win. He wanted a big fight in Albuquerque, for a city that has been through a lot since the pandemic. We are happy to make it happen."

For boxing fans in Indonesia, this duel is an intriguing spectacle to gauge the quality of flyweight boxers who are often considered to receive less attention. A Perez win would strengthen his position as a serious contender in the 112-pound division, while Rivera seeks to prove that his previous defeat was merely a misstep. This fight is also a proving ground for DAZN, which continues to expand the reach of the global boxing market, including potential broadcasts in Southeast Asia.

With the dramatic background and big ambitions of both boxers, this bout has the potential to be one of the most exciting flyweight fights of the year. Will Perez successfully defend his belt in front of his own supporters, or will Rivera steal the spotlight and change the competitive landscape? The answer will be revealed in the ring at the Kiva Auditorium.