AMERICA HAS never been known as a flyweight stronghold, but by 2026 two Californians could be fighting to become the first undisputed champion at 112lbs in the four-belt era.
Anthony Olascuaga (pictured), the reigning WBO titleholder, and WBC/WBA king Ricardo Rafael Sandoval now hold three-quarters of the division’s silverware. Only Japan’s Masamuchi Yabuki, the IBF champion, stands in the way of history.
Sandoval’s stunning victory over Japanese icon Kenshiro Teraji just two months ago will be remembered as one of 2025’s great performances and biggest upsets. For Olascuaga, however, the path to glory looks a little less treacherous this week. On Thursday, September 11, at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas, the 26-year-old (9-1, 6 KOs) defends his crown against Puerto Rico’s Juan Carlos Camacho-Rivera (19-1, 8 KOs), the mandatory challenger. The bout headlines the first edition of The Underdog, a new series presented by RING and staged as part of the Canelo-Crawford fight week festivities.
Olascuaga already has a scouting report on Rivera. Eleven months ago, he watched ringside for ESPN+ as Rivera eked out a split-decision win over former world title challenger Jayson Mama. Rivera then scraped past David Humberto Tapia in March.
Against Mama, Rivera looked caught between two approaches: patiently waiting for mistakes or recklessly diving in after landing a clean shot. His over-eagerness cost him, suffering a flash knockdown in round three and touching down again in the ninth before surviving to claim the verdict. It was an education, but against Olascuaga such lapses could prove fatal.
The champion is armed with what has been described as a “titanic” left hand. His ledger already includes a three-round demolition of Riku Kano to win the vacant title, a controversial first defence when Jonathan Gonzalez retired after claiming he couldn’t see (later ruled a KO1 by the Japanese commission), and a 12-round test against a faded Hiroto Kyoguchi. Even his lone defeat, a late-notice crack at Teraji in just his sixth pro fight, carried a degree of credit in defeat.
Olascuaga is heavy-handed, accurate, and purposeful – a fighter who hurts opponents both to head and body. Rivera, meanwhile, remains a work in progress: untidy, prone to overreaching, and vulnerable when pressing forward. He’s shown recovery skills, but surviving knockdowns against Mama is a far cry from absorbing Olascuaga’s firepower.
Anthony Olascuaga vs Juan Carlos Camacho-Rivera fight prediction
It’s hard to find a realistic route for Rivera. His flaws line up perfectly with Olascuaga’s strengths, and the champion’s composure and punch power should prove decisive. Expect Olascuaga to retain his title with a stoppage inside eight rounds.
