MVPW-05: Jan Paul Rivera Stays Perfect vs. Ruben Garcia

Jan Paul Rivera’s amateur background includes a silver medal at the 2018 AIBA Youth World Championships and being a finalist at the 2020 Puerto Rican National Championships. Since turning pro in 2022, he’s 15-0, with seven knockout victories and having held the WBO Youth Featherweight Championship. Rivera last fought in February, scoring a decision over Conrado S. Martinez.

Ruben Garcia is a well-respected veteran of the fight game and the most experienced fighter on tonight’s card. He is a former WBC Latino Featherweight champion and has boxed in title fights with Nonito Donaire and Michael Conlan. The 25-7-2 fighter, who returned in 2025 after a six-year absence, has lost three straight, most recently dropping a split decision to Manuel Avila in May.

Will momentum or experience get the win in the final prelim of the evening?

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RIVERA v. GARCIA… IT’S ON!

———#MVPW05 | Prelims are LIVE NOW on ESPN+ | Main Card 10PM EST | ESPN 🇺🇸 | Sky Sports 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/U1oHkVLcq7
— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) August 9, 2026

ROUND 1

Rivera lands a left. Both men landing left hands here in the early going. Right jab by Rivera. Another jab by Rivera. Rivera establishing control early. Garcia lands his own jab. Combination by Rivera. A couple of jabs by Rivera. Garcia lands to the body. A couple of more left hands by Rivera. Both landing jabs.

Uppercut by Rivera. Body shot by Rivera. A couple of more body shots from Rivera. Right hand by Rivera. Left hand by Rivera. Left hand by Garcia. Body shots from Garcia, but Rivera continues to land upstairs. Three-punch combination by Rivera. Body shots again by Rivera. Left hand by Garcia. Rivera working one-punch shots and two-shot combinations. Left hand by Garcia.

ROUND 2

Jabs from both men. Garcia with a left. Rivera responds in kind. Garcia lands to the body with a combination. Rivera landing well with the jab. Garcia with a right, and Rivera lands upstairs. Rivera working single shots. Garcia lands a left. Left hand by Rivera. Garcia lands again, but Rivera continues to work.

Garcia with solid combinations as he works the body. Left hand by Rivera. Garcia landing well, including a left hook, as he lands around the body. Rivera with a combination as he tries to push. Garcia looks to get inside. Garcia with a couple of right hands. The two trading inside.

ROUND 3

Garcia lands with the left, as the two exchange in the center of the ring. Rivera with a big right hand. Rivera lands on the body. Rivera with a one-two. Left hand by Rivera. Another round of trading. Right hand by Garcia. Left hand from both men. Garcia misses an uppercut. Combination by Rivera.

One-two by Rivera. Left hand by Rivera. Garcia looking to land on the outside. Left hand by Garcia. One-two by Rivera. Left hand by Garcia. Body shot by Garcia. Body shot by Rivera. Left hands by Garcia. Right hand by Rivera.

ROUND 4

Left hand by Garcia. Both land with the left. Both men land a combination. Left hands from Rivera. Left hand by Rivera. And another. Three-punch combination to the body by Rivera. Right hand by Rivera. Rivera with a right hand again. Rivera finding success with the body shots. A couple of left hands upstairs now for Rivera.

Body shots from both men. Uppercut by Garcia. Garcia with a barrage of punches. Garcia coming forward, but Rivera still finds a left hand. One-two by Rivera. Right hands by Rivera. Right hand by Garcia. Rivera with another combination.

ROUND 5

Left hands from both men. Left hand by Rivera. Garcia lands to the body. Combination by Rivera. Left hand by Rivera. Combination to the body by Garcia. One-two by Rivera. Right hand by Rivera. Body shots by Garcia. Left hands from Rivera. Left hand by Rivera. Right hand by Rivera.

Solid combination by Rivera. Garcia works a combination to the body. Right hand by Rivera. Combination by Garcia. Right hands by Rivera. Garcia goes to the body again. Low shot by Rivera. Garcia lands a solid blow to the body. Accidental headbutt with it. Uppercut by Garcia. A couple of left hands from both men.

ROUND 6

Left hand by Rivera. The two exchange single shots. Both look for uppercuts to the body. A couple of left hands. Garcia gets inside. We might be getting some body work. A couple of solid right hands by Rivera. Left hand by Rivera.

Rivera turning things up slowly. Rivera is pressuring forward and trying to land some additional power in his shots. Rivera landing on the outside. Garcia aiming for the body. Left hands for Rivera. Solid left hand to the head for Rivera.

ROUND 7

Left hand by Garcia. Rivera works a couple of combinations. A couple of left hands by Rivera, and Garcia responds in kind. Right hand a couple of times from Rivera. Wide right hand by Rivera. Left hand by Rivera. Rivera lands a body shot. Garcia looks to land inside on Rivera. Body shot by Rivera. Combination by Garcia.

A couple of solid left hands by Garcia while working his own combinations on Rivera. Rivera looks to counter and he presses Garcia to the ropes. Combination to the body by Rivera now. Right hand by Garcia. Left hand by Garcia. Both land outside hooks. Solid right hand by Rivera. Uppercut by Rivera. Right hand by Rivera. A pair of left hands by Garcia.

ROUND 8

Left hand by Garcia. Another left hand by Garcia. Left hand by Rivera. Jabs from both fighters. Left hand by Rivera. Right hand by Rivera. The two trading jabs and straights. Left hand by Rivera. Combination by Rivera. Left hand by Rivera. Trading of body shots now between both men.

Left hands dished out by Garcia. Rivera comes forward with a combination. Left hand by Garcia. Garcia looking for the body. Right hand by Garcia. Garcia working his jab. Both land with outside shots.

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Jan Paul Rivera … #ANDSTILL undefeated winning the the Jr. Lightweight Bout by Unanimous Decision!#MVPW05 | LIVE NOW | ESPN 🇺🇸 | Sky Sports 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/6wpftT1FnX
— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) August 9, 2026