Yankiel Rivera vs Jonathan Gonzalez Preview Jan. 3rd, 2026
Undefeated Yankiel Rivera of Puerto Rico returns to the ring in his homeland this Saturday, January 3rd as he takes on former world champion Jonathan Gonzalez of New York City. The 10-round flyweight bout from San Juan can be seen live on DAZN. Rivera was last in the ring in August when he battled to a 12-round draw with Aneglino Cordova after Cordova was dropped in the fourth round and had a point deducted in the sixth round for rabbit punching. Rivera’s previous outing last December saw him stop Angel Gonzalez in the fourth round to win the WBC Silver and retain the WBO Intercontinental Flyweight Belt. Gonzalez last fought in October 2024 when he was the WBO Light Flyweight Champion and went up in weight to challenge WBA Flyweight Boss Anthony Olascuaga. The fight was originally called a no-contest as the pair clashed heads midway through the opening round and Gonzalez quit after saying he couldn’t see. The the ringside doctor ruled that he could continue though despite the small cut and the decision was changed to a TKO after an appeal.
Rivera vs Gonzalez Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Jonathan Gonzalez +206
- Yankiel Rivera -275
My Pick
The 28-year-old Rivera carries around a near-perfect record of 7-0-1 with 3 Ko’s and has boxed 56 rounds since making his pro debut in 2022. As an amateur he qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal at the Pan American Youth Championships in 2014. He reached the quarterfinals of the 2016 Continental Olympic Qualification and fought at the 2017 World Boxing Championships. He also won bronze at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games and the 2019 Pan American Games.
Rivera stands 5-feet-3-inches tall with an unlisted reach but has below-average power in his fists as his current knockout ratio clocks in at 42.9 per cent and he’s gone the distance in five of his past six fights. Rivera captured the vacant WBC Continental Americas Flyweight Belt in February, 2024 via a 10-round unanimous decision over Andy Dominguez Velasquez. He then added the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Title four months later with a 10-round unanimous decision over Victor Sandoval after dropping him in the second round. All eight of Rivera’s opponents have had winning records and four of them (Angelino Cordova, Angel Gonzalez, Andy Velasquez and Christian Robles were undefeated.
The 34-year-old Gonzalez is a southpaw who has 200 rounds under his belt since making his pro debut in 2011 following a fine amateur career. He stands 5-feet-2-inches tall with a 62-inch reach so gives up an inch in height to Rivera. Gonzalez, who resides in Puerto Rico, enters the ring with a mark of 28-4-1 with 14 Ko’s. Since turning pro he’s also won the interim WBO Youth Flyweight Title in 2012 and the NABA Light Flyweight Crown in 2015. He also captured the the WBC Latino Flyweight Belt in 2015 and has captured his WBO NABO Title a couple of times.
His lone draw came against Michael Ruiz Jr in 2014 over eight rounds while his other three defeats came at the hands of Kosei Tanaka by seventh-round stoppage in 2019; to Jobert Alvarez by sixth-round KO in 2016 and to Giovani Segura by fourth-round KO in 2013. The loss to Tanaka came in a shot at the WBO World Flyweight Crown but he won it two years later with a unanimous decision over Elwin Soto and defended it three times. Gonzalez has been stopped in all of his losses so it’s fair to say he has a suspect chin.
He’s also beaten the likes of Shokichi Iwata, Juan Alejo, Julian Yedras, Ricardo Rodriguez, Carlos Ruiz, Miguel Del Valle, Omar Soto and Danny Flores. Gonzalez isn’t known as a heavy puncher as 50 per cent of his wins have come by way of stoppage and he’s gone the distance in six of his past seven outings. As an amateur, Gonzalez captured gold medals at the 2008 Youth World Championships and the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. His father, Luis Gonzalez earned Golden Glove awards in 1980 and 1982.
Prediction…
Rivera had his hands full with Angelino Cordova in his last fight and could have the same problem against Gonzalez. However, you never know which version of Gonzalez is going to show up. At his best he’s a world beater but some nights he’s just average. Either way, Rivera will need to improve on his last performance if he hopes to beat his fellow Puerto Rican this Saturday night. I can see this fight going either way but believe Rivera will do just enough to pull out a victory and remain undefeated.
A close call with Rivera having a slight edge.
Play: Rivera -275 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Jonathan Gonzalez betting • Yankiel Rivera betting