Fast rising lightweight prospect Michel Rivera (19-0) is an interested  observer of tonight’s lightweight showdown pitting former champion Richard Commey (29-3) against Jackson Mariñez (19-1).  The fights tops an ESPN tripleheader.

Commey’s first two professional losses were debatable spilt decision losses against Robert Easter Jr. and Denis Shafikov. His third loss came in his most recent bout when he was stopped in the second round against Teofimo Lopez in what was his second title defense in December, 2019.

Marinez, who like Rivera is from the Dominican Republic, is coming off of a controversial unanimous decision loss to Rolando Romero this past August.

Rivera believes that the fight will be competitive but that Marinez’s boxing skills will be too much for the Ghana native.

“I think that it will be a great fight but breaking it down, I think Marinez has more dimensions than Commey but Commey definitely has a bigger punch. I think that it will be a good fight but I have to go with my countryman. I think Marinez will give 100% and has a great chance to win what will be a tough fight,” Rivera told BoxingScene.com.

When asked about Marinez’s loss against Romero, Rivera is still shaking his head at the result. For most of the fight the hard hitting Romero had trouble dealing with Marinez’s movement.

Many observers thought Marinez boxed his way to a victory by a comfortable margin and Rivera is in agreement.

“Mariñez gave Rolly a lesson. Marinez is a much more compete boxer than Rolly. Rolly talked a lot but didn’t back it up. Marinez clearly won the fight and the results given by those judges was the robbery of 2020,” said Rivera.

The 22-year-old Rivera went 2-0 in 2020 and will be announcing his next fight soon.

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