Frank Martin and Michel Rivera Deliver Star-Making Performance
Photo credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
When a young star fights in the footsteps of greats, or the great Mohammed Ali, that demands attention—especially on the world stage of Las Vegas. The reflection of Michel "La Zarza Ali" Rivera to The People's Champion is surreal. It is destiny. It keeps the dream alive in the rhythm of a humble, strong, boxing passion which each generation, Rivera’s and Martin’s generation, hopes to take on.
Michel "La Zarza Ali" Rivera battled top contender Frank "The Ghost" Martin in a star-making performance and WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator, and for better or worse, everyone that night felt in the presence of legends. Martin dropped Rivera in the seventh round and won by scores of 120-107, 118-109 and 117-110. Martin was recognized to have delivered his signature moment of the fight with a straight left-right hook combination. In resilient ways Rivera tried rising to his feet but Martin kept the attack coming, mixing even more body shots on his weary opponent.
"We believe in 'Man Down',” said Martin. “It’s protect yourself at all times. He got caught slipping and he went down.”
“I'm pretty fast, but you have to be faster to fight a guy like this,” said Rivera. “I was too slow tonight. I tried to use my jab to keep him off me. He was the better guy today. I won't take anything away from him. I don't want to learn how to lose. I'm just going to work hard to win again. I don't want losing to feel normal. I work to win."
To fight a Ghost is imperative to each athlete's legacy. And sometimes, before great champions are made and rise, they fall and kneel on the unforgettable trail of stars.
