Carlos Rivera - Ready To Take Out Ali Baba!
Published May 1, 2009 by Martin Bean
With plans to catapult himself into title contention, Featherweight Carlos Rivera 15-3-2 (5 KO’s) has been training vigorously for his showdown next Friday with former title challenger Alex “Ali” Baba 26-14-1 (19 KO’s). Unbeaten in his last seven contests, Rivera defeated the well respected Johnnie Edwards via unanimous decision in February. Although he is riding his recent success with confidence, Rivera knows his fight with Doraville, GA’s Baba will be far from a cakewalk.
“I am in the best shape of my life”, said Rivera, who fights out of Port Richey, FL. “Baba is a tough guy with a good record and has fought for a world title. He has fought ten or twelve rounds 13 times and I’ve never gone past eight. While this is a tough task, I am confident of victory.” The Rivera-Baba will be the main event and is scheduled for eight rounds.
The recently revamped undercard will be headed by intriguing eight round match up between unbeaten prospect Ahsandi “Mr. Brixx” Gibbs 10-0 (4 KO’s) and brawny veteran Marcus Upshaw 9-3-1 (3 KO’s). Upshaw will mark Gibbs’ toughest challenge to date and has built a reputation for always coming to fight. Gibbs of St. Petersburg and Upshaw of Jacksonville will battle it out for the vacant Florida State Middleweight Crown.
Local superstar Nicholas Iannuzzi 10-0 (7 KO’s) of Tampa will hope to keep his undefeated record intact against the tough and durable Hilario Guzman 8-23-6 (1 KO) of Orlando by way of the Dominican Republic. The all-action Iannuzzi won the NBA Jr. Intercontinental Cruiserweight crown in his last bout with a sixth round TKO over Theo Kruger. Guzman is unbeaten in his last four bouts and has only been stopped five times, making him far from a pushover. Iannuzzi and Guzman are set to duke it out over six rounds.
Ladies star Jenna “Cowgirl” Shiver 8-4-1 (2 KO’s), of Tampa will look to make it back to back solid performances as she will battle Lucia Larcinese 1-3 of Montreal, Canada. In March, Shiver defeated Christina Leadbeater via unanimous decision in a crowd pleasing war. The Shiver-Larcinese matchup will take place over six rounds at Featherweight.
2004 Venezuelan Olympic Heavyweight Wilmer Vazquez 7-0-1 (4 KO’s) will put his unbeaten record on the line against Allen Prescott 2-3 (1 KO), of North Carolina. Vazquez, who now fights out of Florida, has displayed heavy hands and is promoted by Warriors Boxing.
Heavyweights Robert Burgees 0-1 of Altamonte Springs, FL and Lamar Davis 1-1 (1 KO) of Tampa will scrap it out over four rounds. Rounding out the card will be a four rounder between debuting Junior Lightweights Roger Rosa of Orlando, FL and Carlos Cisneros of Sarasota, FL.
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