Vigil of slain Puerto Rican boxer features him standing in boxing ring

The body of boxer Christopher Rivera, who was shot to death on Sunday, is propped up in a fake boxing ring during his wake at the community recreation center within the public housing project where he lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Friday, Jan. 31, 2014. Elsie Rodriguez, vice president of the Marin funeral home, explained that Rivera had asked his family that if he died, he wanted his funeral to make reference to his boxing career. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo) (The Associated Press)

Lidianette Carmona, behind right, the wife of the late boxer Christopher Rivera, stands with Rivera's mother Celines Amaro, left, and Rivera's son Julio Christopher, as they pose for photos taken by fans with the body of Christopher Rivera propped up in a fake boxing ring during his wake at the community recreation center within the public housing project where he lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Friday, Jan. 31, 2014. Elsie Rodriguez, vice president of the Marin funeral home, explained that Rivera had asked his family that if he died, he wanted his funeral to make reference to his boxing career. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo) (The Associated Press)

A slain boxer in Puerto Rico has received an unusual send off.

Christopher Rivera was memorialized at his wake standing up in a makeshift boxing ring set up in a community center of a San Juan public housing complex.

The 23-year-old wore sunglasses, boxing gloves and a yellow-and-black boxing uniform. Police said he was shot on Jan. 26. No one has been arrested.

Marin Funeral Home Vice President Elsie Rodriguez told The Associated Press Friday that it took them several hours to create the scene. She said Rivera had told his relatives that if he died, he wanted his boxing career acknowledged at his funeral.

The funeral home is well-known for having previously created other thematic wakes, including one featuring a deceased man riding his motorcycle.