It never bothered Michel Rivera that he had to train through his 22nd birthday for his biggest in-ring opportunity to date.

Nor does he view the postponement of such a fight as time wasted in training camp.

The unbeaten blue-chip lightweight prospect is among the many boxers to be left without a previously scheduled fight, as he was due to appear on the April 18 Showtime tripleheader from Phoenix, Arizona that was formally canceled on Monday in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Rivera was set to face Mexico’s Marcos Villasana Jr. (25-6, 14KOs) in a 12-round bout that would have left the winner in prime position to challenge for a lightweight title later this year.

“Of course, I’m disappointed that my fight is not going to take place in April, but with all bad news comes eventually good news,” Rivera (18-0, 12KOs) told BoxingScene.com. in the wake of the show being postponed. “I know that this won’t last forever, and that we will be back to some normality very soon. I have faith in that.”

The bout would have been the second of 2020 for Rivera, a Dominican-bred lightweight who now lives and trains in Miami, Florida. Much of his time is spent working out of head trainer Herman Caicedo’s sports complex in Miami, where he still plans to maintain a heavy presence while everyone awaits clearance for the sport—and really, the world in general.

As it relates to his own career, Rivera’s intention is simply to pick up right where he left off—and save the “getting ready” part for those who lack big picture perspective.

“I am training very hard for my next upcoming fight, as it is for the number one position mandatory spot for a title,” points out Rivera, who has remained a televised presence ever since his stateside debut last June. “My trainer Herman Caicedo  always has great advice, for many different scenarios that fighters go through, not just as a coach.

“I, of course, miss my family and friends back home in the Dominican Republic. But this is a sacrifice to reach my goal. I have full support from my family back home, my manager my promoter (Sampson Lewkowicz) and of course my family here, my (Trainer) and stablemates who have gone through and currently going through this with me as well.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox