Michel Rivera returns to action to face Hugo Roldan in Shields-Lepage card on July 27

Michel Rivera is eager to make a name for himself as a contender at 140 pounds. Rivera will face Hugo Roldan on July 27, Salita Promotions announced Monday afternoon. The 10-round bout will take place at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan and will precede the main event bout between undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields and WBC women’s world heavyweight titleholder Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.

Both fights will stream live on DAZN (8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.



m. PT). Also taking place on the Shields vs.

Jonaisse card will be a 10-round bout between former world junior welterweight titleholder Shohjahon Ergashev and Julian Smith. “The junior welterweight division is one of boxing’s deepest in talent and in personality,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “Shohjahon Ergashev and Michel Rivera are both top contenders and they are in with live challengers who are looking to make their own claim to fame.

These fights are going to be barnburners with the winners in line for world title shots.” Rivera (25-1, 14 knockouts), who is originally from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and now lives and trains in Miami, Florida, made his 140-pound debut on November 25, defeating former world 140-pound titleholder Sergey Lipinets by unanimous decision. In his previous fight in December 2022, his last as a lightweight, Rivera lost to contender Frank Martin in a clash of unbeaten 135-pound fighters.

The 26-year-old recently signed a promotional deal with S.