Whether we like it or not, the WBC bridgerweight division is set to commence on March 16th when Oscar Rivas headlines a $29.99 FITE PPV in his current stomping grounds of Quebec.
Rivas (26-1, 18 KO) hasn’t fought since July 2019, when he fell short against Dillian Whyte in a bid for the interim WBC heavyweight title. He subsequently signed a co-promotional deal with Top Rank, though whatever immediate plans they had fell apart thanks to the pandemic. Groupe Yvon Michel will stage this eight-rounder against Sylvera Louis (8-5, 4 KO), whom Rivas beat by split decision in 2012 and who last fought in 2016.
Two other noteworthy figures are set for action as well. One is middleweight Patrice Volny (15-0, 9 KO), who was slated to met Patrick Wojcicki in an IBF final eliminator last November before COVID issues forced a delay. He stays busy against Janks Trotter (10-5-2, 10 KO) in preparation for a rescheduled May meeting with Wojcicki. Trotter’s last fight was a 2018 TKO loss to Volny.
The other is amateur heavyweight standout Alexis Barriere, who faces Colin Sangster (2-0, 2 KO) in his professional debut. The press release calls this a “fight between Canadian heavyweight prospects,” conveniently ignoring the fact that Sangster is 43 years old.