Mikiah Kreps is on the verge of a world title fight. Defeating a solid competitor and former world title challenger could go a long way toward making that happen.
Kreps will face Mayerlin Rivas on Friday night at the Seneca Niagara Hotel and Casino in Kreps’ hometown of Niagara Falls, New York. The 10-round bout will be an All Star Boxing card that will stream live on ESPN Knockout (8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. Mexico City time).
Promoter Tuto Zabala, Jr. is impressed with Kreps’ progress and development to become a contender in a competitive junior featherweight division.
“Mikiah is number 4 by the WBA and number 5 by the WBO,” Zabala told The Ring on Wednesday afternoon. “Friday will be her fourth appearance on the Seneca Fight Nights series on ESPN Knockout.
“Her opponents were more challenging with each fight. Now she faces a former world title holder in two weights in Mayerlin. (Promoter) Lou DiBella and I agreed to work together and lead her way to a world title. She has a tough task, but we are confident that she will emerge victorious and ultimately fight for a world title belt here at her home, the Seneca Resort and Casino in Niagara Falls, New York.
Manager Jerry Cazarez agrees. He manages Kreps with former WBO world lightweight titleholder Jamel Herring.
“It’s an important fight for her against a former world champion,” Cazarez told The Ring on Wednesday. “A win here puts her in line to be next. She is ready and I expect her to dominate.”
Kreps (8-0, 3 KOs) last fought on May 10, defeating Melissa Oddessa Parker by unanimous decision. In her previous fight on November 7, Kreps defeated Isis Vargas Perez by decision over eight competitive rounds.
The 28-year-old has been an amateur standout, including first place at the 2018 Elite National Championships, a bronze medalist at the 2019 World Championships, and was the No. 1 ranked amateur in USA Boxing.
Rivas (17-5-3, 11 KOs) will be a big step up in opposition for Kreps. Rivas won the WBA world junior featherweight title in February 2020, defeating Laura Ledezma by unanimous decision. Rivas had a knockout win over Karina Fernandez in 2022 and a draw against Nazarena Romero before losing by majority decision to Erika Hernandez Cruz on November 18.
The 36-year-old Rivas, who lives in Caracas, Venezuela, was also a world titleholder at 118 pounds.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at (email protected)
