Bruce Carrington Calls Jose Enrique Vivas ‘A Big Step Up for Me’

Featherweight contender Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington is on the brink of a world title opportunity. But first he’ll need to overcome a tough Mexican veteran who has never been stopped.

Carrington will face Jose Enrique Vivas in a 10-rounder at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 8. Carrington-Vivas will serve as the co-feature to the junior middleweight showdown between Puerto Rico’s Xander Zayas and Brazilian former titleholder Patrick Teixeira.

“This is a big step up for me,” Carrington said. “I will finally be in the co-main event of a big show. It’s the best thing for my career right now, so I can let everyone know who I am. This fight will help me grow and get comfortable with this type of atmosphere. This opportunity will allow me to show I’m made for this.”

Carrington-Vivas and Zayas-Teixeira will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ in the U.S. and on Sky Sports in the U.K. and Ireland.

Carrington (11-0, 7 KOs), a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, has quickly risen through the rankings since turning pro in October 2021. A 27-year-old from Brooklyn, Carrington notched five wins in 2023, including a second-round TKO against former world title challenger Jason Sanchez. In his most recent fight, he knocked out Bernard Torres with a right hook at The Theater in February, a finish that went viral and landed on ESPN’s “SportsCenter Top 10.”

“I’m an old-school fighter,” Carrington said. “I go in there to hurt. I go in there to dominate in dramatic fashion. I have that mentality. And I feel that’s what separates the boys from the men. That’s what separates the champions from the greats.”

Vivas (23-3, 12 KOs) bounced back from his loss to Joet Gonzalez last April with a first-round TKO over Jonathan Aguilar in February.

“Jose Enrique Vivas is a great dance partner,” Carrington said. “He’s never been stopped. He’s a really tough guy, but I like fighting tough guys. I get to show how not tough they are when it comes to facing me.

“I will be the first person to stop him. And it’s because of the way I’ve been training, how hard I’ve been training and what I know I’m going to bring to the table. It’s just like in my last two fights. It’s about how I have been feeling.”