Mikiah Kreps is on the cusp of a world title combat. Defeating a stable contender and former world title challenger may go a great distance in making that occur.
Kreps will face Mayerlin Rivas Friday evening on the Seneca Niagara Lodge and On line casino in Kreps’ hometown of Niagara Falls, New York. The ten-round bout will headline an All Star Boxing card that can stream stay on ESPN Knockout (8 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. Mexico Metropolis time).
Promoter Tuto Zabala, Jr. has been impressed with Kreps’ progress and improvement into changing into a contender in a aggressive junior featherweight division.
“Mikiah is ranked No. 4 by the WBA and No. 5 by the WBO,” Zabala informed The Ring Wednesday afternoon. “Friday will mark her 4 look on the Seneca Combat Nights sequence on ESPN Knockout.
“Her opponents have been tougher with every combat. Now she faces a former world titleholder in two weights in Mayerlin. (Promoter) Lou DiBella and I’ve agreed to work collectively and information her path in direction of a world title. She has a tough activity, however we’re assured that she is going to come out triumphant and finally combat for a world title belt right here at her dwelling, the Seneca Resort and On line casino in Niagara Falls, New York.
Supervisor Jerry Cazarez agrees. He co-manages Kreps with former WBO world light-weight titleholder Jamel Herring.
“This is a vital combat for her towards a former world champion,” Cazarez informed The Ring Wednesday. “A victory right here places her in line to be subsequent. She’s prepared and I count on her to dominate.”
Kreps (8-0, 3 knockouts) final fought on Could 10, defeating Melissa Oddessa Parker by unanimous resolution. In her earlier combat on November 7, Kreps defeated Isis Vargas Perez by resolution over eight aggressive rounds.
The 28-year-old was an novice standout, together with inserting first on the 2018 Elite Nationwide Championships, a bronze medalist on the 2019 World Championships, and was the No. 1 ranked novice in USA Boxing.
Rivas (17-5-3, 11 KOs) will probably be an enormous step-up in opposition for Kreps. Rivas gained the WBA world junior featherweight title in February 2020, defeating Laura Ledezma by unanimous resolution. Rivas amassed a knockout win over Karina Fernandez in 2022 and a draw towards Nazarena Romero earlier than dropping to Erika Hernandez Cruz by majority resolution on November 18.
The 36-year-old Rivas, who resides in Caracas, Venezuela, additionally was a world titleholder at 118 kilos.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He could be reached at [email protected]
