Jose Rivera ready for Trabant and World title shot Saturday in Germany

11.09 - BERLIN, Germany – Fully prepared for Saturday night’s title shot in enemy territory, “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera has acclimated himself to Germany, including its people, food, weather, and time change. Now he’s ready to face European champion Michel Trabant for the vacant World Boxing Association welterweight title Saturday night at The Estrel Convention Center in Berlin.

The 30-year-old, Worcester (MA)-based Rivera (36-3-1, 24 KOs), arguably the welterweight division’s best-kept secret, fights 25-year-old Trabant (38-0, 18 KOs) in his hometown of Berlin. Their 12-round match will be broadcast only on German television.

“I don’t make predictions,” Rivera said from his German hotel room, “but my fans can rest assure that I will give 100-percent and more in the ring, which usually results in a win. I’m looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait for Saturday night to arrive.”

The Berlin Wall came down; now Jose Rivera plans to systematically take apart Trabant, so to speak, brick by brick.