Óscar Rivas


Óscar Andres Rivas Torres is a Colombian professional boxer. He held the WBC bridgerweight title from 2021 to 2023. He also challenged for the vacant WBC interim heavyweight title in 2019, and previously held the IBF International, WBC-NABF and WBO-NABO heavyweight titles. As an amateur, he won a silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games.

Amateur career

In Cartagena at the 2006 Caribbean Games, the 212 lbs Rivas lost in the first round to Cuban Olympic Bronze medalist Michel López Núñez 4:6.
On 4 February 2007 at a PanAm qualifier Rivas scored his first big win by beating two-time American champ Mike Wilson 24:19 but lost to Cuban Robert Alfonso 12:21.
In the Pan-American main event in Rio he beat Gerardo Bisbal 22:8, Didier Bence by walkover and reached the final but lost to Alfonso once again, this time 4:8.
In Chicago, at the 2007 AIBA World Boxing Championships he stopped Dominican Lequan Carlisle but lost to eventual silver medalist Vyacheslav Glazkov 7:23.
At the first Olympic qualifier in March 2008, he lost to American Michael Hunter Jr.; however, in April 2008 he qualified for the 2008 Olympics through the second American qualifier with a 16:4 over Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr. and a 6:5 victory over Brazilian Gleison Abreu.
At the Olympics he upset European champion Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria 11:5, but lost to Italian world champion and eventual Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle 5:9.

Professional career

Heavyweight

Early career

Rivas turned pro in 2009 for Yvon Michel in Canada. After compiling a perfect record of 20-0, he captured the vacant NABF heavyweight title in his 21st fight after beating former world title challenger Carl Davis Drumond by first-round knockout on 28 September 2017, with the stoppage coming just 68 seconds into the fight.

Rivas vs. Jennings

After four more consecutive wins, Rivas defeated former WBA interim heavyweight champion Bryant Jennings via twelfth-round technical knockout in his 26th fight on 18 January 2019 to win the IBF International and WBO-NABO heavyweight titles. Jennings was a highly ranked heavyweight at the time, ranked at #2 by the WBO, #7 by the WBA, #8 by the IBF and #14 by the WBC.

Rivas vs. Whyte

With an undefeated record of 26-0, Rivas challenged Dillian Whyte for the vacant WBC interim heavyweight title. Whyte was ranked #1 by the WBC and #3 by the WBA and WBO at heavyweight. Rivas knocked Whyte down in the ninth round with a right uppercut, but he ultimately lost the fight by unanimous decision with scores of 116–112, 115–111, 115–111.

Bridgerweight

Cancelled Jennings rematch

Rivas was scheduled to meet Bryant Jennings on 18 June 2021 in Canada in a rematch of their 2019 fight for the inaugural WBC bridgerweight title, but the fight was postponed and ultimately cancelled.

Rivas vs. Louis

On 16 March, 2021, Rivas fought Sylvera Louis. Rivas won the fight within three rounds via TKO.

Rivas vs. Rozicki

On 22 October 2021, Rivas outpointed undefeated Ryan Rozicki to a unanimous decision with scores of 116–111 and 115–112 twice to become the inaugural WBC bridgerweight champion.

Personal life

Rivas was born in Buenaventura, Colombia, and resides in Montreal, Quebec.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
29Win28–1Ryan RozickiUD1222 Oct 2021Olympia Theatre, Montreal, CanadaWon inaugural WBC bridgerweight title
28Win27–1Sylvera LouisRTD3, 3:0016 Mar 2021Hotel Plaza Quebec, Quebec, Canada
27Loss26–1Dillian WhyteUD1220 Jul 2019The O2 Arena, London, EnglandFor vacant WBC interim heavyweight title
26Win26–0Bryant JenningsTKO12, 0:5418 Jan 2019Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, USRetained NABF heavyweight title;
Won IBF International and WBO-NABO heavyweight titles
25Win25–0Fábio MaldonadoUD101 Dec 2018Videotron Centre, Quebec City, Quebec, CanadaRetained NABF heavyweight title
24Win24–0Herve HubeauxUD1019 May 2018Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaRetained NABF heavyweight title
23Win23–0Sergio Ramirez2, 3:0019 Apr 2018Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
22Win22–0Gabriel Enguema1014 Dec 2017Palais des sports Marcel-Cerdan, Paris, France
21Win21–0Carl Davis DrumondKO1, 1:0828 Sep 2017Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaWon vacant NABF heavyweight title
20Win20–0Jeremiah KarpencyTKO3, 1:4929 Jul 2016Videotron Centre, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
19Win19–0Jeremy BatesKO1, 1:474 Jun 2016Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
18Win18–0Joey AbellKO2, 0:4628 Nov 2015Videotron Centre, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
17Win17–0Jason PettawayKO1, 2:2526 Jun 2015Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, Washington, US
16Win16–0Ozcan CetinkayaTKO1, 1:394 Apr 2015Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
15Win15–0Eric BarrakTKO2, 3:0023 Sep 2014Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
14Win14–0Daniel CotaTKO5, 2:0522 Aug 2014Complexe Sportif Sportscene, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
13Win13–0Shawn CoxTKO3, 2:5318 Jan 2014Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
12Win12–0Laszlo PeczeliKO1, 0:2314 Dec 2012Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
11Win11–0Sylvera Louis88 Jun 2012Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
10Win10–0Stephane TessierUD620 Apr 2012Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
9Win9–0Ivica PerkovicTKO3, 0:5118 Feb 2012Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8Win8–0Matthew GreerTKO3, 2:5910 Dec 2011Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
7Win7–0Edgars KalnarsKO1, 1:2520 Oct 2011Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
6Win6–0Zsolt ZathureczkyTKO1, 2:0521 May 2011Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
5Win5–0Wilfrido Leal6, 1:138 Apr 2011Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
4Win4–0David Whittom411 Feb 2011Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
3Win3–0Ramon HayesUD47 Nov 2009Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2Win2–0Stephane Tessier43 Oct 2009Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1Win1–0Joe Stofle3, 1:3328 Aug 2009Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada