Team Rivera fights ‘King-sized’ odds

WORCESTER, Mass. (March 23, 2004) – Team Rivera feels the odds are definitely stacked against them in “The New Era Begins” against Ricardo Mayorga, April 17 at Madison Square Garden, even more so than last September when “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera (37-3-1, 24 KOs) traveled to Berlin for a WBA welterweight title fight against unbeaten Michel Trabant in his hometown. Rivera captured a 12-round decision and makes his first title defense April 17 in New York City, where there will be plenty of supportive fans, but still ‘King-sized’ odds to overcome.

Don King promotes both Rivera and Mayorga; yet, Jose has been portrayed as a sacrificial-lamb heading to slaughter against King’s cash cow, Mayorga, who is preparing for Rivera by working out at King’s training camp in Florida. A picture of the world champion, Rivera, is conspicuously absent from “The New Era Begins” fight poster, on which, Mayorga’s likeness, of course, is prominently displayed.

Last December, King’s plans for a Mayorga-Sugar Shane Mosley pay-per-view extravaganza went up in smoke when Cory Spinks upset Mayorga, whose manager, Don’s son Carl, officially appealed the decision claiming the referee erred by ruling two Spinks knockdowns as falls.

When Mayorga didn’t appear for the official press conference last month in New York City announcing “The New Era Begins,” Carl and Don reported that Mayorga’s absence was due to a hand injury suffered at training camp. Bobby Goodman, DKP’s Director of Boxing, told Rivera’s manager, Steve “Tank” Tankanow, however, Mayorga had not suffered an injury.

“I just want the Kings to make sure Ricardo ‘El Cry Baby’ Mayorga shows up April 17 and after Jose wins,” Tankanow said, “I hope Mayorga doesn’t run crying to the New York Boxing Commission.”

“You would think they learned a valuable lesson the first time around when Mayorga blew the Mosley fight. All I’m reading is Don talking about Mayorga’s next opponent. Now it’s supposed to be Tito Trinidad. From listening to Don, you’d never know he promotes Jose, too. Who will Don offer to Rivera after he knocks out Mayorga? Mayorga’s going to need more than Don, Carl and the others in his corner to beat Jose. They can’t help him once the first bell rings.”

“Jose is used to being an underdog, he’s comfortable in that role, but come April 17 the whole boxing world is going to know Jose Antonio Rivera.”

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, ‘cuz The Rooster is coming.