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Cosme
Rivera vows to upset Judah
LAS VEGAS (April 19, 2005) – IBF mandatory challenger Cosme “Chino”
Rivera (28-7-2, 20 KOs) plans on shocking the boxing world May 14 when
he fights defending champion Zab “Super” Judah (33-2, 24 KOs) in the
12-round co-feature, headlined by Tito Trinidad-Winky Wright, for the
undisputed (IBF, WBC & WBA) welterweight titles on HBO PPV from the MGM
Grand in Las Vegas.
“All of those boxing insiders who think this is going to be a one-sided
fight haven’t followed my career,” Rivera said. “I can’t wait. Judah is
wearing my belts. He’s never fought anybody with my heart and
determination. I’m a Mexican and we’re all about heart. Nobody’s every
knocked me down. I’ve been waiting my whole career for this opportunity.
I’m going to bring the fight to him.”
The 28-year-old Rivera, now living in Los Angeles, was born in the same
part of Mexico as Julio Cesar Chavez and Jose Luis Ramirez. Unbeaten in
his last seven fights since moving up to welterweight from junior
welterweight, fighting opponents with an aggregate number of 150
victories, Cosme earned his IBF mandatory position by stopping Hercules
Kyvelos (22-1) in the fourth round of their September 9, 2004 IBF
eliminator.
“We’re excited,” Guilty Boxing vice president Jay Hassman noted. “Cosme
and Guilty Boxing respect Zab for his commitment to fight the No. 1
challenger. Guilty’s worked hard to provide this opportunity for Cosme
to fight for the world titles. He is the first of many boxers from
Guilty’s growing, talented stable who’ll be fighting for world titles
this year.”
Rivera has held several minor title belts like the IBA Americas, WBF and
WBC Continental Americas welterweight, as well as the WBO NABO, UBF
International and Baja California State light welterweight
championships. He has defeated world-class fighters such as James Hare
(28-0-1), Golden Johnson (22-5-2), Wilfredo Negron (20-6) and Hector
Quiroz (26-3-1).
“Zab is the undisputed champion of the world and he’s going to come out
trying to prove he’s the No. 1 welterweight. But he’s going to be in for
a war because I’m no pushover. I can take a good punch. My chin is tough
and he’s never going to put me on the canvas.
“I’m one of the greatest Mexican fighters of all-time, right there with
Chavez and (Carlos) Palomino, and I’ll prove it against Judah. I’m going
to show the world what I’m all about. Once I beat Zab it’ll set-up big
money fights for me against Oscar (De La Hoya) or (Shane) Mosley.”
