Via Knitting Ambrosio: Michel Rivera says he’s furious about last Saturday night’s loss to Frank Martin in Las Vegas.
Rivera (24-1, 14 KOs) felt that he did everything correctly in camp to prepare for the 12-round WBA lightweight belt elimination against Martin (17-0, 12 KOs) undefeated, but he She feels her body is too big. He was having a hard time gaining weight.
In thinking about what he could have done differently, Rivera, 24, said he shouldn’t have joined the fight against Martin south.
Rivera says he should listen to his body instead of those around him who feel that he’s ready to enter this fight with Martin.
Previously undefeated Rivera said that he wants people to talk about him if he wins. Instead, he was unequivocally beaten by Martin, losing in the 12th round decisively by 120-107, 117-110 and 118-109.
Given the problems Rivera has with his weight, it may be time for him to consider moving up to the 140 lb class.
There are plenty of famous fighters in that weight class for Rivera to compete in, and many of the top 135-pound fighters will soon move up to 140.
“I feel angry at myself. I don’t want to make excuses. Something happened, but I kept fighting. It was my fault,” Michel Rivera told Joel stage, reflecting on his loss to Frank Martin. “It’s not someone else’s fault. It’s just mine.
“My body is too big. It’s a tough time to gain weight. My corner knows how hard it is for me. I tried to execute the plan, but you have to execute the plan quickly. My body doesn’t want to answer.
“I tried to do it, but I couldn’t because my body felt so bad. Terrible. It’s a dream to get the title at 135th. People are talking about this tournament, and I was thinking about being No. 1 in this tournament.
“I feel like the biggest person there. My body is bigger than 135 others. I am disciplined. I make everything perfect. I do not know what to do. I will keep practicing and see what I do wrong and what I do well.
“It was an opportunity for me to have a top game. It’s harder for Latinos than for American boxers. I have 24-0, and these guys have 12-0, and they’re easier to win titles than Latino.
“I could never see myself that I could lose. I just work away and do everything to win. I would rather die than lose. I couldn’t be more dedicated than I am. I can’t. That’s impossible.
“Rest is very important for the body, and I don’t rest. I live in the gym. I don’t know,” Rivera said when asked how long he’ll be out of the gym after his loss to Martin. “That was the hardest part. I don’t know what I will do.
“I did everything right. During the fight, I didn’t feel good. I thought If I win this war, people will talk about me. My people will talk about me. It was the right time.
“You have to know if this war is at the right time. Sometimes you have to think when to fight and when you can make time for this style. This guy is different from the others.
“It might be easier but it’s Southpaw, unorthodox or maybe faster and not slower like the others. You have to see everything in yourself, not just talk to others because they are not in the ring. It’s you in the ring.
“I think this is one of the problems. Perhaps I listened to others more than myself. Sometimes if your body tells you no, don’t do it.
“I don’t know,” Rivera said when asked what he learned from failure. “I lost, that’s all. I’ve lost already, but I don’t believe I’ve lost right now,” Rivera said.
