Abraham Perez will make the first defense of his WBA Interim Flyweight World Championship in a homecoming showdown with Yankiel Rivera at Albuquerque’s Kiva Auditorium on Saturday, Nov. 7 live exclusively on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT.
Perez returns for his first defense just two years after a near-fatal drowning incident left him in a coma eight days prior to the biggest fight of his career, an August 2024 scheduled bout in Albuquerque. Facing the grim diagnosis that he may never walk again, Perez persevered, returned to boxing in 2025 and won the interim title in June on DAZN over defending champion Jonathan Gonzalez.
Now the undefeated Perez (15-0, 7 KOs) returns in a DAZN headlining bout with the hopes of following in the footsteps of New Mexico legends Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero, fellow lower weight class champions who established Albuquerque as a homebase for major events.
Tickets for the Nov. 7 event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions and Legacy Boxing Promotions in association with Wynn Records, are available on ticketmaster.com.
“Most athletes dream to be in the current situation I am in – defending a belt in their hometown,” Perez said. “It means a whole lot to not only me, but the local fans who get to see the fight. I did not let what happened to me stop the dream of becoming a world champion, I could’ve quit boxing or even swimming, but it’s the optimism, the fight in me, and the love I have for the sport that kept me going. I will never be Tapia or Romero, I can only aspire to be the best version of myself. So while there is a Tapia, a Romero, there is also a Perez.”
The 27-year-old “Hammer” Perez was a stellar amateur, having won the 2020 Olympic Trials at 114 pounds and the 2019 National Golden Gloves. He turned professional in 2021 and was moved quickly, earning his first title opportunity in his 14th professional fight.
Rivera (8-1-1, 4 KOs), of Bayamon, was the only boxer from Puerto Rico to qualify for 2020 Olympics and finished his amateur career with a 133-14 record. He was also moved incredibly fast since turning professional in 2022, fighting for an interim flyweight world championship in only his eighth professional fight, a draw with then-undefeated Angelino Cordova. In his next fight he was upset in a decision loss against Jonathan Gonzalez for the WBA Interim Flyweight World Championship. The 29-year-old is coming off a first round knockout last Friday over Francisco Vargas Martinez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
“You will see a 100 percent Yankiel Rivera – completely focused, prepared and completely motivated,” Rivera said. “I know some are skeptical after my defeat, but I will show them that a defeat does not define me. With the exception of a very small group, every fighter faces a loss. It is not the loss that defines you, it is what you do afterwards.
“I see this fight as an opportunity to beat the guy who beat me. A victory will vindicate that defeat and will show that I belong in the mix with the elite fighters in the 112-pound division. My name has to be on that list. I’m ready to fight and defeat the best of the division.”
Albuquerque has a history as a boxing hotbed that has bred some of America’s best lower weight division champions – Hall of Famer and three division champion Johnny Tapia, who was a titlist at super flyweight, bantamweight and featherweight, and two division champion Danny Romero, a flyweight and junior bantamweight champion. Now the city has it’s newest champion in Perez, who looks to establish his own legacy as a young rising star in New Mexico.
“Albuquerque is one of America’s legendary boxing cities,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “Our goal is to reignite that fire – both locally and nationally. We are proud to feature hometown world champion Abraham Perez, along with talented fighters from Albuquerque’s great local gyms. By teaming up with Legacy Boxing Promotions, we hope to build a lasting partnership and bring championship boxing back to this historic fight town.”
Added Aaron Perez and Gabriel Carlin of Legacy Promotions: “From day one, Legacy Promotions’ goal has been to put New Mexico back on the map as a destination for championship boxing. In 2024, we were proud to bring a world championship fight to Albuquerque. Now, we’re honored to bring another world championship fight home – this time in partnership with Salita Promotions and DAZN, the premier boxing network in the world – with our own champion, Abraham Perez.
“After his latest victory, we asked Abraham what he wanted next. He said he wanted a big fight in Albuquerque, for a city that has been through a lot since the pandemic. We’re excited to make that happen and give our city a night to remember.”
