Salita Promotions is set to close out its 2026 fight calendar with a compelling pair of championship events scheduled in New Mexico and Puerto Rico. The promotional company’s final two offerings of the year feature a blend of high-stakes world title matchups, deeply personal storylines of survival, and the ongoing division of vacated crown jewels in women’s professional boxing.
The action begins on November 7 at the Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, New Mexico, headlined by undefeated local contender Abraham Perez defending his WBA interim flyweight championship against Puerto Rico’s Yankiel Rivera. Four weeks later, on December 5, the promotional roadshow transitions to the historic Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, where undefeated contender Litzy Vazquez meets local star Stephanie Piñeiro with the vacant WBA, WBO, and WBC super lightweight titles on the line—belts previously held by former undisputed world champion Katie Taylor.
Together, the two events reflect promoter Dmitriy Salita’s strategy of combining heart-stopping athletic competition with resonant human narratives, solidifying the promoter’s presence across key domestic and international boxing hubs.
Perez Faces Rivera in Albuquerque
The centerpiece of the November 7 event at the Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque is the main event clash between undefeated hometown favorite Abraham Perez and challenger Yankiel Rivera under the Big Time Boxing banner.
For Perez, who carries a perfect professional record of 15-0 with 7 knockouts, the fight represents far more than a standard title defense. Just over two years prior, in August 2024, the flyweight contender was involved in a near-fatal drowning accident that left him in a coma and cast serious doubt on his future, both inside and outside the ring. Against formidable odds, Perez made a complete medical recovery and resumed his athletic career, culminating in a career-defining performance in June 2026 when he defeated Jonathan Gonzalez to claim the WBA interim flyweight championship.
Now, Perez brings his world title belt back to his home crowd in Albuquerque, putting his championship on the line against Rivera (8-1-1, 4 KOs). Rivera, representing Puerto Rico, enters enemy territory looking to derail one of boxing’s most remarkable comeback stories and capture interim world title honors for himself.
The supporting card in Albuquerque features a high-grade light heavyweight contest between unbeaten prospect Atif Oberlton and experienced contender Deon Nicholson in a scheduled ten-round bout. Oberlton, who boasts an immaculate record of 17-0 with 14 stoppages, continues his methodical ascent up the 175-pound rankings.
Speaking exclusively to World Boxing News ahead of the matchup, Oberlton made it clear that he views Nicholson as a crucial test designed to unlock his full potential inside the ring.
“Nicholson is a good opponent—a good dance partner. We’re getting closer to the level of opponents that allow for a standout performance because the challenge keeps stepping up,” Oberlton told WBN.
That sentiment is echoed by promoter Dmitriy Salita, who has systematically moved Oberlton toward title contention and sees the Philadelphia-born fighter as a crown jewel of his promotional roster.
“We know how talented Atif is and we want to position him as the best light heavyweight coming out of the U.S.,” Salita told WBN in a separate exclusive discussion.
The Albuquerque event also highlights heavyweight talent, featuring a clash between Pryce Taylor and Tsotne Rogava, along with an intriguing match between Sardius Simmons and Cesar Navarro.
Event logistics for the November 7 card have been set, with the first bell scheduled for 5 p.m. ET at the Kiva Auditorium. The live broadcast will air exclusively on DAZN starting at 8 p.m. ET, bringing the New Mexico fight card to a worldwide streaming audience.
Two World Titles in Puerto Rico
Four weeks after the action concludes in New Mexico, Salita Promotions shifts its focus to the Caribbean for a major women’s world championship event on December 5 at the Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
The main event features a high-stakes championship clash between undefeated Mexican contender Litzy Vazquez and Puerto Rican standout Stephanie Piñeiro. The pair will compete for the vacant WBA, WBO, and WBC super lightweight titles, belts left behind following Katie Taylor’s departure from the 140-pound division.
Vazquez (9-0, 6 KOs) enters the contest holding the WBA interim championship and an unblemished professional resume. However, to capture full world title status across multiple sanctioning bodies, she must navigate the challenge of fighting on foreign soil. Piñeiro will benefit from the vocal backing of her hometown crowd in Bayamón as she attempts to secure a legacy-defining victory and keep two world championship belts on the island.
The matchup adds another chapter to the historic, decades-long boxing rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico. Both fighters bring contrasting styles and aggressive mindsets to the ring, with each seeking to fill the power vacuum created at 140 pounds by Taylor’s vacancy.
For Salita Promotions, staging a major multi-title event in Bayamón underscores an ongoing investment in the local fight scene. Speaking previously to World Boxing News, promoter Dmitriy Salita emphasized the significance of hosting major championship events in the region.
“Puerto Rico is one of the greatest boxing islands in the world, and we are committed to developing its next generation of superstars,” Salita said in a WBN exclusive.
The December 5 showcase at the Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez will be broadcast live on the Wynn Records Network beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Additional undercard matchups for the Puerto Rico event are being finalized and will be officially confirmed by the promotion closer to fight night.
Closing Out 2026
As the 2026 boxing season draws to a close, Salita Promotions’ late-year schedule highlights the company’s ongoing strategy of pairing meaningful regional showcases with internationally recognized world championship stakes. By featuring emotional narratives such as Abraham Perez’s return from a life-threatening ordeal alongside elite-level matchups in the light heavyweight and super lightweight divisions, the promotional outfit aims to maintain a distinct identity within a competitive global boxing market.
With broadcast partners in place across both DAZN and the Wynn Records Network, the events in Albuquerque and Bayamón provide a prominent platform for veteran champions and rising contenders alike as they look to establish their positions heading into 2027.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
