Michel Rivera Calls On Frank Martin to Return a Favor with a Rematch!
Last December 17, lightweight boxer Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera (24-1, 14 KO’s) suffered the worst night of his professional career. On that night, he was thoroughly outclassed, dropped and beaten by Frank “The Ghost” Martin (17-0, 12 KO’s). Not only was he efficiently undressed in the ring, he would go on to be flagged for two illegal substances, hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene, in the aftermath.
RUN IT BACK!
As most all fighters do, Ali professed his innocence and ignorance about the situation and even served his team up on the chopping block. Nevertheless, the Dominican bruiser was fined and suspended for six months. Now, looking to begin the long road to repentance and climb back up the rankings, Rivera, 25, is on the hunt for the next fight. Yet, as he explained to Mill City Boxing, he’d love another crack and The Ghost.
“I feel like I failed before in fights, that was 100% me. That is no excuse, I don’t know if the people believe in this or no. I still tell him congratulations for the fight, he do good, he win, he get the decision, he fight smart and he has potential to fight on the level. He is right there and he has good people that get his opportunities. And in the future I want a rematch, I would love a rematch. Right now I just want to come back and do good and see how my body reacts…And I believe they have to give me the rematch because I gave him the opportunity when he needed me!”
It’s ridiculously unlikely that La Zarza Ali will get the fight he wants with Martin next. So, it’ll be interesting to see who he selects and how he performs. Without question, the loss to The Ghost stripped Rivera of much momentum. Prior to the fight, he was ranked in the top 15 of all four major sanctioning organizations. Now, Rivera is ranked #13 (WBC) and in no one else’s top fifteen. Let’s see if the talented, developing fighter can claw his way back to his previously known heights.
