Rivera bounces back with a majority decision

By LITO DELOS REYES

DAVAO CITY – Filipino All “The Machine Gun” Rivera scored a majority decision over undefeated Omar “El Relampago” Juarez of USA last June 27 at the Minneapolis Armory in Minneapolis.

The 28-year-old Rivera sent downed Juarez in Round nine of the 10-round fight.

Judges Octavio Rodriguez (95-94) and Kyle Shiely (96-93) both gave it to Rivera while Judge Scott Erickson saw it a draw, 95-95.

It was the first loss of Juarez after 11 fights all wins with six knockouts while Rivera improved his record to 22 wins with 18 knockouts against five setbacks.

Earlier, Rivera lost by a unanimous decision to Rances Barthelerny of USA last Jan. 30 at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles.

The 5-foot-8 Rivera suffered a cut right eye from an accidental headbutt in Round 2. Rivera again had a cut on the left eye from legal punches in Round 3.

Rivera won the vacant OPBF super lightweight champion after he stopped Shinya Iwabuchi by TKO in the 7th round last Feb. 11, 2016, in Japan.

Rivera then retained his OPBF title by knocking out Adones Cabalquinto of Davao in the 2nd round last Nov. 25, 2016, in Santa Rosa City.

However, Rivera lost to Aik Shakhnazaryan by a unanimous decision for the vacant WBC International super lightweight title last March 2017 in Moscow.

Before he left for the US, Rivera still managed to score a UD over Rodel Wenceslao to win the Philippine welterweight title last Feb. 29, 2020, at Lagao Gym