Brandon Rios Thinks He's Top Lightweight, Would Welcome Yuriorkis Gamboa Fight

by Chris Celletti on Nov 16, 2011 3:35 PM EST in Boxing News Analysis

Brandon Rios says he's the top dog at lightweight.

Undefeated lightweight titlist Brandon Rios is looking ahead of his Dec. 3 fight against John Murray on the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito undercard at Madison Square Garden, and says he is excited about the prospect of matching up with Yuriorkis Gamboa early in 2012. Gamboa (21-0, 16 KO), the unbeaten Cuban superstar and former featherweight titlist, would have to jump up two weight classes to face Rios at 135 pounds, a division Rios claims he's the top dog in. In an interview with BoxingScene.com's "The Boxing Lab", Rios (28-0-1, 21 KO) made it clear that he'd sign up for a fight with Gamboa at lightweight.

Rios said:

"How is he going to handle my pressure? Cause he's coming into my class. He's coming to my division. This is my title. This is my world at 135. I run it. Only reason I'm number two is because (Juan Manuel) Marquez hasn't faced me yet. But other than that, I run 135. So how's he going to handle it?

As long as Juan Manuel Marquez is still an active boxer, he's the best lightweight in the world. He's recognized as so by The Ring. Although Marquez just fought Manny Pacquiao at 144 pounds, I think it's safe to say he "runs" 135 as long as he's active or gets beat at the weight.

Of course Rios would love to fight Gamboa immediately, forcing the Cuban to jump up from 126 pounds. Gamboa has fought above the featherweight limit before, most recently a first round knockout of Walter Estrada in February of 2009. His last seven fights have been back down at featherweight. I guess it wouldn't hurt Gamboa to take a tune-up fight or two at 130 or 135 before facing Rios, but all he does is risk losing or looking bad and diminishing his value. If he goes straight up and beats Rios, it would make a huge statement.

Rios fights next on December 3, facing John Murray on the Cotto vs Margarito undercard.

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I'm 100% certain JMM will never defend the lightweight championship again

… so Rios is my new #1 at 135.

I don’t expect anyone to do the same.

by Lee Payton on Nov 16, 2011 5:31 PM EST reply actions

Damn you Arum

This won’t happen for at least 2 to 3 years with it being more likely in 4 years maybe. Gamboa has got to start moving up in the ranks. So at each weight class he will take on a scrub, mid-level opponent, and then maybe a belt. Thankfully there is only one weight class in between them now. Gamboa will take on a scrub, Jorge Solis, and then maybe someone else at 130. Then he will take on a scrub at 135, someone else, then maybe Rios. This is about 5 fights before he would even think about matching these two together, really this is a way of keeping Gamboa and Rios in the news when they aren’t doing anything.

"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi

by Waldo Rastel on Nov 16, 2011 6:00 PM EST reply actions

I hope this won’t be the case, b/c Rios will probably move up in weight pretty soon.

And Rios is doing something………he’s fighting in a few weeks.

by DPlainview on Nov 16, 2011 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

He already fought and demolished Jorge Solis. I doubt Gamboa’s going to be fighting “scrubs” — HBO buys him as a main eventer and he’s turning 30 next month. I’ve actually got no doubt Gamboa is pushing for this to be his next fight.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 16, 2011 7:00 PM EST up reply actions