Rivalta Boxing Friday Night Fights Early Results

By Matthew Benoliel

Miami, FL. September 23, 2022.

Rivalta Boxing’s Friday Night Fights introduced several promising new prospects and featured some of MIami’s favorites as well. The event took place at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport and Convention Center in Miami, FL on September 23rd.

Middleweight Yankiel Navarro of Havana, Cuba made his pro debut in the opening bout against Nicholas Draine (1-0). The tempo was fast and furious from the onset with the southpaw Navarro taking the offense, landing combinations and showing good lateral movement. He dropped Draine three times in the first round and referee Michael DeJesus called a halt to the bout at 2:51, declaring Navarro the winner by TKO.

Next up was a man that no one seems to want to fight these days, Gustavo Trujillo. Trujillo has competed for Bellator in MMA and is undefeated in BKFC, with a record of 3-0. He is currently ranked #2 in the heavyweight division for that organization. Trujillo made his professional boxing debut tonight in the heavyweight division against Joseph Bond (0-3) of Orlando, FL. Trujillo showed his power early in the first round with a right hand that staggered Bond. Bond fought on, but was unable to fully recover from the blow. Referee Sam Burgos stopped the bout at 2:59 of the first round as Bond was clearly taking too much punishment.  

Bout three featured the pro debut of Heavyweight Fernando Cuza, another promising Cuban fighter with an extensive amateur background. He took on Cody “The Curse” Kerr (1-0) of Omaha, Nebraska. From the opening bell, Kerr showed determination and confidence, feinting and landing one good right hand in the first round. Cuza tried to pick up the pace a little in the second round, and controlled most of the action. Cuza opened the third round with a pressing attack, landing combinations and forcing Kerr onto the ropes. Kerr hung in there and continued to throw combinations, but was unable to land anything effective. The bout went the six-round distance with Cuza winning by unanimous decision. The scorecards read 60-52 x 2 and 59-53.

Bout number four featured the highly anticipated debut of 270 pound heavyweight Nestor Santana. Hailing from Cuba, Santana, who has only been in the United Stated for two months, has been training hard, losing over thirty pounds, and positioning himself to make a statement in the heavyweight division. He took on Alexis Nieukerk (1-0) of Amsterdam, NY. At the press conference the previous day, Nieukerk seemed unfazed by Santana’s size and extensive amatuer pedigree. This did not bode well for Nieukerk. Santana landed a devastating right hook to the chin in the first round that floored Nieukerk and put an end to the action.  

Hometown favorite Jorge De Jesus Romero (22-0-2) took on a very game opponent in Julian Evaristo Aristule (35-15-0) from Argentina in a ten-round contest at middleweight.  Romero was able to edge out each round on the scorecards, landing more effective combinations while staying out of any real trouble. The fight went the distance and the decision was unanimous in favor of Romero, 98-90, 99-89 x 2.