Joe Rivers

Rivers was born in Los Angeles on March 19, 1892 to Andrew Ybarra. He was a fourth generation Californian. He was of Spanish-Indian descent.

On February 22, 1911, he defeated Jimmy Reagan, a former Bantamweight World Champion by a technical knockout in the thirteenth round of a scheduled twenty. Reagan took a "terrific beating" and was knocked down four times prior to the thirteenth round when he was knocked down twice more by Rivers before the fight was called by Referee Eyeton. The bout took place in the Arena in Vernon, California, considered in the city of Los Angeles. The referee was Charles Eyton.

On January 1, 1912 he knocked out former World Bantameight Champion Frankie Conley.

At the time, Rivers was described 'as fast as chain lightning, and a stinging puncher to boot', and 'is a Mexican. His appearance tells that, but his accent does not differ from that of any other American stripling. He is a product of the Los Angeles fight game, and is probably the best youngster they have turned out down that way.' Annecdotally, he was 'christened Ybbarranda, or some other Mexican patronym with the customary deckload of Y's and R's' when asked his name by a southern US boxing announcer prior to a bout, he was then asked where he lived. Replying 'Down the river', he was announced as Joe Rivers.