Reconnecting With Boxing - Brandon Rios
by Brent Brookhouse on May 10, 2011 6:31 PM EDT
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PrintI've long loved the sport of boxing. My great grandfather got me interested in the sport by telling me stories of fights from "his day." Then there was the inevitable impact of Mike Tyson (and, more importantly, Mike Tyson's Punchout!) on a young kid. And finally the few brushes with Muhammad Ali, a resident of a nearby town and much bigger/better local resident celebrity than Smashing Pumpkins guitarist D'arcy (who now just hangs around the area getting arrested over and over). It all added up at an early age to cement my boxing fandom.
I ended up on SBNation writing here at BadLeftHook (after SBN stole the name from me, a story for another time) but got lazy, Scott got awesome and I was watching more MMA than boxing. I woke up one day with no memory of the previous night, wearing a t-shirt covered in dragons and skulls, surrounded by empty cans of Axe body spray and with a signed contract to write for Bloody Elbow sitting in my fax machine.
Anyway, after a bizarre gut feeling that I should watch some boxing the morning of Berto/Ortiz and JuanMa/Salido I started to get my boxing jones back. Then I was tasked with covering Mosley/Pacquiao for SBNation.com and after a week of non-stop boxing I'm wanting to get fully back in the fold.
So after that horribly long intro to what is going on, I asked Scott for names of guys I should be checking out that might not be on my radar in a #1 guy in his weight class/rising prospect/exciting to watch kind of way and now I plan on working through fights and sharing my worthless thoughts. My goal is to watch a fight by each guy he (and hopefully some of you all) told/tell me about. Because that's just the way it really works for most people. You hear about a guy and see one of his fights and than kind of decide if you want to go out of your way to see him again. So ...here we go.
Brandon Rios
Given that I've still casually followed boxing for these years, I had heard Rios' name come up several times. Unfortunately my schedule hadn't really lined up to where I'd been able to watch any of his fights.
I started off by watching some Rios interviews and immediately built up a dislike. I mean, it's pretty damn hard for me to think of another time I've watched a video and found Elie Seckbach to be the second most annoying man in it. As I can't really watch an old fight without knowing who is going to win, I was pretty annoyed that I'd be watching a fight that Rios won given how hard I now wanted to root against him. He just seemed like the kind of guy who goes to a local bar, has two drinks, can't handle his weak ass liquor, gets handsy with a girl he doesn't know and then cries while he tries to fight the bouncer as he is being thrown out.
Then I read about Rios and some of the kind of scummy things that went down during his career like the weigh-in crazyness from the Pac/Margarito undercard...which, come to think of it I did watch...so HEY! I have seen Brandon Rios fight before! I just don't remember it! Anyway, I just really did not like the kid heading into watching this fight.
But then I actually sat down and watched Rios vs. Miguel Acosta and was blown away. First off, it's a badass fight. Rios did not look particularly "special" in any aspect other than above-average power and a relentless will. His flat-out determination that he was going to continue coming forward, no matter how many times Acosta punched him, no matter how hard he got hit and no matter how well Acosta took his power early in the fight was fantastic. And then Miguel just started to crumble under the pressure and punching of Brandon and he got the violent stoppage win. It was pretty great stuff.
You guys don't need a recap of the fight and if you do, go read Scott's.
But once I got past the thrill of watching a great fight I wasn't really sure what to take away here. Rios was a blast to watch in this fight and seems like the kind of guy who is going to make for exciting fights every time out. But he also doesn't strike me as someone who will be "special." In fact, I think I could see myself taking Acosta if the two were to rematch. He plods, he leaves himself open to getting hit, he doesn't really have otherworldly power. It just adds up to a guy who probably runs into someone who gets him out of there with some big power shots. But still, he WAS a lot of fun to watch.
So on that note, I introduce you to the method on which I will be judging these fighters. An entirely arbitrary 1-5 ranking system that has NOTHING to do with how good I think a fighter is, but rather how much I care about this fighter and watching him fight again
The Care-O-Meter!
On the 1-5 Care-O-Meter scale, I give Brandon Rios the full 5! I love watching guys fight who are too proud (or maybe too stupid) to back down even in a fight where it appears they're outclassed. And it's even better when they have enough of their own skills to combine with that pride (or stupidity) and find a way to win the fight. The one Brandon Rios (yes, I'm kind of calling him stupid. But in a way that benefits him as a fighter, if that makes it better.)fight I've seen (or can remember seeing) showed me that. So...there you go!
Next up? Miguel Vazquez!
When? Whenever I get around to it.
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Wildly swinging in tone as it was written over three days because I…well…I had better things to do!
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on May 10, 2011 6:33 PM EDT reply actions
The fact that Rios gets hit so much and therefore looks vulnerable is part of what attracts me to him as a fighter…..The Acosta fight is leading the way for FOTY,imo and what a fight it was…For all i don’t care for Rios as a person (the public image anyway) his old school style of just marching forward like a somewhat lesser Jake LaMotta,throwing punches (sometimes bombs) while taking a beating himself can’t fail to attract fans.
He’s got a bad left hook too…………Corny i know. :)
He looks very dangerous but at the same time very beatable and i would love to see him in fights with Robert Guerrero,Humberto Soto and possibly Juan Manuel Marquez (not sure if JMM wouldn’t just constantly pick him apart and stop him,even at his age but would love to find out)…..His next fight with Urbano Antillon is surely another can’t miss thriller too and one of the best fights on the schedule (on paper).
I’ll definitely be picking Rios in that one as he just looks like a bigger,tougher,younger version of Antillon to me.
While Rios might not be headed for the HoF, he sure does bring the entertainment and i’ll enjoy it while it lasts.
I can see Miguel Vazquez getting a low score on the Care-o-Meter...
He’s a fantastic fighter, boring to watch… He would box circles around Rios and most of the lightweight class.
Still searching for an alive Dan Tucker.
Agreed completely
Maybe not “fantastic”. Really solid technically, especially given his background, average talent, and one key component lacking in most Mexican fighters – the ability to not get drawn into a war when it’s not to your benefit.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I can’t think of anyone who I would suggest you take a look at.
Well, maybe this one chinese-looking dude. He lost this fight, though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOigV3R3gFo
by The Boxer Rebellion on May 10, 2011 8:32 PM EDT reply actions
Rios is awesome! I'm in love with his fighting style and heart!
But yeah, I wouldn’t follow him on Twitter. Lol
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
A few more suggestions
Abner Mares
Beibut Shumenov
Marcos Maidana (he might be a little too ‘big’ for what you’re looking for though)
Roman Gonzalez
Nkosinathi Joyi
Urbano Antillon
Manuel “Chango” Vargas (who isn’t on the same level as these other guys, but has become one of my favorites just because he battles like hell no matter how steep the hill is in front of him)
Depending on where this weekend comes out, George Groves. Or hell, George Groves anyway.
There are a bunch of other guys that also spring to mind who just haven’t been tested much yet, so who the hell knows if they’ll still be fun once they’ve been tested (Gennady Golovkin, Dmitry Pirog, Scott Quigg, etc.)
Love the article though. One of the best lines I’ve ever seen on here:
I woke up one day with no memory of the previous night, wearing a t-shirt covered in dragons and skulls, surrounded by empty cans of Axe body spray and with a signed contract to write for Bloody Elbow sitting in my fax machine.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I’ve seen Maidana fight a few times.
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on May 11, 2011 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Didn’t mean to hit post. I’ve seen Maidana fight a few times, but will add the others to the list.
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on May 11, 2011 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Its ebb and flow with both boxing and MMA
I started out as a boxing fan but MMA took over between 2006 – 2009, although I still kept up on both sports.
Now its boxing that has taken the front seat. I cant even remember a recent UFC comparable to the thrills of watching Khan-Maidana, Ortiz-Berto or Rios-Acosta. The last event was fairly good, but GSP-Shields was a buzzkill.
Hopefully there will be an exciting MMA event sometime.
Some Fights and Fighters
that might interest you:
No doubt you will have heard of and seen some of these but these are the types of guys who bring the action and/or are good to watch:
Carl Froch – his fight with Jermain Taylor is well worth viewing.You’ve got to wait till the end for the payoff though.Also Froch v Jean Pascal and Mikkel Kessler are excellent fights.Not the most skillful guy to watch but he rarely backs down and is tough as they come.Has started to box more than fight lately though.
Sergio Martinez – Lineal middleweight champ.Very skillful with good power and , although he often likes to box off the back foot, still loves a fight.
Yuriorkis Gamboa – One of the P4P quickest, most athletic and powerful fighters out there.
Could be something special.
Nonito Donaire – Imo the future P4P no.1.Just seems so much better than everyone else around his weight class.Great to watch and seems to have it all.
Here are some very good fights from the last few years that you would enjoy,if you haven’t already seen them:
Sergio Martinez v Paul Williams 1+2 (2009/2010)
Juan Manuel Marquez v Juan Diaz 1 (2009)
Juan Manuel Lopez v Rogers Mtagwa (2009)
Amir Khan v Marcos Maidana (2010)
Carl Forch v Mikkel Kessler (2010)
Juan Manuel Marquez v Joel Casamayor (2008)
Also,me being from the UK i have to mention a few of our fighters (Brit fighters tend to be more relevent in boxing than in MMA :)
Along with the established title holders Froch,David Haye and Amir Khan there are also some excellent young fighters in Kell Brook (147lbs), Nathan Cleverly (175), James Degale (168) and Frankie Gavin (140/147).
I agree on Nonito Donaire
He’s very intelligent, doesn’t waste too much movements and energy, has power in both hands, and most importantly incredible timing.
Yeah
i agree with all that you say,especially the timing…Impeccable it is…He couldn’t have caught Vic Darchinyan any sweeter.
Notable upcoming fights
to look out for are:
Juergen Braehmer v Nathan Cleverly/James DeGale v George Groves – (May 21st) – Big UK bill that i just read EPIX cable channel has picked up in the US.
Carl Froch v Glen Johnson (June 4th) – Froch will likely try to box him but i can possibly see Glen turning it into a war.
Saul Alvarez v Ryan Rhodes (June 18th) – One of the top prospects/contenders in the sport against a wily,experienced Brit veteran.
Wlad Klitschko v David Haye (July 2nd) – I’m sure you know about this one.
And the aforementioned:
Brandon Rios v Urbano Antillon – Potential FoTY contender.
Not the most obscure names out there and Scott has probably told you or you may already know about most of them,but these are the can’t miss,most relevant,competitive upcoming fights on the schedule,imo.
Rios is old school and comes to fight. Plus he is a monster who enjooys what he does
and so do I. Rios is a fan-friendly guy.He also is highly adapt at closing off the ring and stalking his prey. He is a “stalk, stun, and kill” fighter and that’s my favorite type.
"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity." - Mike Quarry
Good Lord, it's nice to be back.
I need to do some catching up.
Why dont we ever see the headline "Psychic
wins lottery" in the newspapers?
Mikey Garcia
is another young fighter to keep an eye on.
Unusually for a technical boxer type,he can bang a bit too.
Garcia is coming up soon. That was the 3rd name mentioned by Scott in our talk.
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on May 11, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Another good one
Getting a lot of those Oxnard boys, I guess
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Hey nice article Brent. Some witty stuff.
Have you watched Andre Ward? His versatility and ability to get dirty when needed might appeal to your crossover MMA/boxing sensibility.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
Yeah, I’ve watched a lot of Ward. The absolute top guys I’ve pretty much seen…
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on May 11, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
This isn’t exactly what you asked for, but for good boxing viewing Brickhaus posted this great collection this past Dec., you might enjoy some of these. The least “significant” one, Luna v. Luna, is my fave because I saw it live(tv) and it was such an amazing little surprise.
http://www.badlefthook.com/2010/12/27/1886894/2010-the-year-of-the-closet-classic
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
This for the record is still my FotY.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
Yeah, Rios vs Acosta
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on May 12, 2011 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I had pretty big hopes for Jorge Linares 2-3 years ago until he got KO’d in 1 by Juan Carlos Salgado (who lost his very next fight)…He’s on the comeback trail but seems to be taking quite a few soft touches..He’s still only 25 and Amir Khan managed to turn things around in a similar situation but,then again, Linares isn’t Khan.
The talent is (or was at least) there for all to see though..Quick and really puts his punches together well.
He’s in a deep division at lightweight now but he could well be worth keeping an eye on.
Plenty of good fighters lost fights,even by KO, early in their careers and came back stronger.
Just checking now and to be fair to Salgado the guy who beat him, Takashi Uchiyama, is still undefeated at 17-0(14).
I’ve never seen Uchiyama fight and am not sure how good he is but Scott or someone else will know more.
Uchiyama is a very sound, heavy-handed guy. A little on the slow side, but I like him.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on May 13, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Linares might have been a Khan situation
Where he was draining himself too much to make a lower weight, and his chin, while still not good, might not be horrible at the new weight.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Ismayl Sillayk
is one of the best young prospects/contenders out there at the moment, imo.
Have only seen him once, on FNF against a Cuban the other week, but he definitely made his mark that night and looks like a big talent to me.
Silayk v Cleverly would be a great future matchup.
I want to say he also fought on the Jones-Calzaghe undercard.
One Jones undercard or another, in any case.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Corrected
Hopkins-Jones II undercard, against Daniel Judah. I still can’t believe I actually paid for that one. Most entertaining part of the card was Hopkins’ ring walk.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I still can’t believe I actually paid for that one.
Were you one of the people I conned into buying that? You’re welcome.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on May 13, 2011 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions
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