Undefeated Featherweight Rafael "Big Bang" Rivera (25-0-2, 16 KOs) will step in to fight 2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph "JoJo" Diaz, Jr. (24-0, 13 KOs) in a 12-round WBC Title Eliminator as the co-main event to the Canelo-Golovkin superfight Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Rivera, a 23-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico, was originally supposed to fight Diaz on Saturday's card, but was forced to step aside for Lara, due to Lara being higher-ranked by the WBC. Rivera has already been training for a fight.
"Originally, I was hoping to get a shot at JoJo Diaz," Rivera said. "When that didn't pan out, I took another fight for next week. I have therefore been training and am in the best shape of my life. I am grateful that I have this last-minute chance, and there is no way I am letting this opportunity pass me by."
Diaz Jr. said, "I don't care who is in front of me, I'm leaving with a win on September 16th. After I have my hand raised in victory, I will be one fight away from realizing my dream of winning a world championship."