Abraham Perez Defeats Yankiel Rivera by Unanimous Decision — But the Interim Champion Still Needs a Real Title Fight

Abraham Perez delivered the kind of performance that should move an interim champion toward something bigger.

Perez dropped Yankiel Rivera in the second round, controlled their 12-round fight and earned a unanimous decision on November 7 at Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Journal, Boxing 247 and World Boxing News reported scorecards of 120-107, 119-109 and 118-109, all for Perez.

The victory marked Perez’s first defense of the WBA interim flyweight title. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the Albuquerque fighter improved to 16-0 with seven knockouts. Boxing 247 listed Rivera’s record at 8-2-1 with four knockouts following the defeat.

Perez did everything an interim titleholder is supposed to do. He defeated his challenger decisively, produced the fight’s defining moment and left no room for debate on the scorecards.

Now comes the part Perez cannot control.

The result strengthened his claim to face one of the division’s recognized champions, but it did not establish him as the full flyweight champion. Whether this victory becomes a bridge to that opportunity—or merely the beginning of another cycle of interim-title defenses—will depend on what the WBA does next.

Perez Turned His First Defense Into a Statement

Rivera entered Albuquerque with an opportunity to disrupt Perez’s momentum and claim the interim belt. Instead, the fight moved firmly in Perez’s direction during the second round.

Boxing 247, World Boxing News and the Albuquerque Journal all reported that Perez scored a knockdown in that round. Rivera recovered and completed the 12-round distance, but the scorecards show how little he was able to change the direction of the contest afterward.

One judge awarded Perez every round in addition to the knockdown, producing the 120-107 score. The other two cards—119-109 and 118-109—were nearly as decisive.

Those numbers are the clearest evidence of what happened.

There are no verified punch statistics in the supplied reporting that would justify inventing a detailed tactical breakdown. What the documented record establishes is that Perez created the fight’s only reported knockdown and won by commanding margins on all three cards. Rivera remained in the fight until the final bell, but surviving 12 rounds was not the same as making the contest competitive.

Perez also had to manage an injury during the bout. The Albuquerque Journal reported that an accidental clash of heads opened cuts around his left eye in the fourth round. Perez later appeared for interviews with stitches above the eye and another cut across his nose.

That damage should not be attributed to Rivera’s punches when the reporting identifies a clash of heads as the cause. It nevertheless added another problem for Perez to handle while defending his title.

He handled it without surrendering control.

The Rivera Victory Was More Convincing Than the Gonzalez Win

Perez’s rise has not followed an ordinary path.

Salita Promotions reported that he suffered a near-fatal drowning accident in August 2024 and was placed in a coma. He returned to professional boxing in 2025, then defeated Jonathan Gonzalez by split decision on June 14, 2026, to win the WBA interim flyweight title.

That victory gave Perez a championship designation, but the split decision left room for debate about how firmly he had established himself at that level. A narrow win can prove that a fighter belongs in the conversation without settling where he ranks within it.

The Rivera fight was different.

Perez was not trying to regain his place after the accident or capture an available belt for the first time. He was defending a title in his hometown with expectations attached to his unbeaten record. Rivera’s job was to determine whether Perez could maintain his position when another contender arrived specifically to take it.

Perez answered with a knockdown and three scorecards that were not remotely close.

Salita Promotions identified the bout as Perez’s first interim-title defense and his first appearance in Albuquerque since defeating Gonzalez. That context matters because titleholders are evaluated differently once they possess a belt. Winning it creates an opportunity. Defending it convincingly begins to build a case for advancement.

Perez’s performance against Rivera does not prove that he can defeat every leading flyweight. Rivera is not a substitute for facing a recognized world champion, and a wide decision over one challenger cannot establish supremacy over an entire division.

It does show that Perez improved on the uncertainty of the Gonzalez result.

Against Gonzalez, he escaped with a split decision. Against Rivera, he removed doubt from the outcome.

Perez Has a Belt, but His Championship Position Remains Unclear

Most of the principal reporting identifies Perez as the WBA interim flyweight champion.

Salita Promotions promoted the bout as an interim-title defense. The Albuquerque Journal, Boxing 247 and World Boxing News also described the championship as the WBA interim flyweight title. Boxing News 24 created a reporting conflict by referring to an IBF Intercontinental championship, but that description is inconsistent with the promoter and the other three reports.

The weight of the available sourcing supports identifying Perez as the WBA interim flyweight titleholder.

That distinction is important because “interim champion” and fully recognized world champion are not interchangeable descriptions. Perez owns a sanctioned title and has now defended it, but his position remains incomplete as long as another fighter occupies the WBA’s full championship status.

This is not a criticism of Perez.

He fought for the title that was placed in front of him, won it and defended it with authority. A fighter cannot create his own path through a sanctioning body’s structure. He can only keep winning and make the strongest possible argument for the next opportunity.

Perez has done that so far.

World Boxing News reported that Perez said he was ready for his next challenge and wanted to prove that he belongs against the division’s best. His ambition is reasonable after a performance this decisive. The unresolved issue is whether the sanctioning process will match that ambition.

No reported order has established Perez’s next opponent. The reviewed sources also did not provide verified purse figures for either fighter, so there is no responsible basis for publishing financial estimates around the event.

What is known is simpler: Perez remains unbeaten, retained his interim title and has publicly called for a higher-level challenge.

What is not known may matter even more.

There is no confirmed answer about whether the WBA will move him toward its full champion or approve another interim defense against a different contender.

Perez’s Next Assignment Will Show What This Victory Earned Him

Another interim-title defense could help Perez gain experience and extend his unbeaten record. It could also leave the central question exactly where it is now.

At some point, an interim championship is supposed to lead somewhere.

Perez has already completed the first logical requirement by successfully defending the belt. He did not struggle through an uncertain decision against Rivera. He did not require favorable interpretation of a close fight. He won so clearly that the widest judge produced a 13-point margin.

That should make the next step more meaningful.

A fight against the WBA’s full champion would give Perez the opportunity to establish his standing inside the ring. It would also give the division clarity that another interim defense cannot provide. Perez would either convert his unbeaten run and secondary title into recognition at the highest level, or the full champion would demonstrate the competitive difference between the two positions.

Either result would answer something.

Another interim defense would answer less. It could still be a legitimate fight against a capable opponent, but it would continue asking Perez to defend a temporary designation without confirming when—or whether—he will receive the opportunity that designation appears to promise.

Rivera now faces uncertainty of his own. Boxing 247 reported that the loss dropped him to 8-2-1, and the available reporting does not establish whether he intends to remain at flyweight. Completing 12 rounds against Perez showed durability, but the early knockdown and wide scorecards leave Rivera needing to rebuild before another title opportunity becomes realistic.

Perez is in a different position. He should not have to rebuild after a performance that strengthened every part of his case.

He needs the chance to advance.