In a scene reminiscent of Weekend at Bernie’s, the family of a dead Puerto Rican boxer propped up his embalmed body at his wake in a fake boxing ring on Friday and posed for photographs with the corpse.
The family was honoring the wishes of slain boxer Christopher Rivera, who was shot to death on January 26, according to police.
Rivera was 23 years of age and had a “5-15 record in the 130-pound weight class.”
Mourners who posed with the body included his mother, “Celines Amaro, wife Lidianette Carmona and son Julio Christopher.”
Marin Funeral Home Vice President said they are known for “thematic wakes,” and it took them several hours to create the simulation of the boxing ring that was “set up at the community recreation center of the public housing project where he lived in San Juan.” The funeral home has also had a wake in which it featured a deceased man on a motorcycle.