Rios vs Antillon Results: Bam Bam Wins Three Round War in Carson

by Scott Christ on Jul 9, 2011 11:46 PM EDT in Boxing Results and Post-Fight Analysis

Brandon Rios overpowered Urbano Antillon in a great battle tonight. (Photo by Tom Casino/SHOWTIME)

We got the action we were guaranteed tonight in the Showtime main event, as Brandon Rios and Urbano Antillon tore into one another for two rounds before Rios floored Antillon twice in the third round and eventually stopped him near the end of the frame, retaining his lightweight trinket and staying unbeaten in an all-action war in Carson, California.

Rios (28-0-1, 21 KO) just appeared to have more thudding power than Antillon (28-3, 20 KO), and took the first two rounds, which were back-and-forth wars. The first round was up there for Round of the Year, as the two men had a seesaw battle of snapping heads back in the phone booth. You had to know after one round that it couldn't last, and it obviously could not.

All in all, I think the fight played out like most expected: Toe-to-toe battle, hard shots from both men, and Rios simply being younger, fresher, and stronger. That was the story of the fight. They fight just about the same, and Brandon Rios is just better at it than Urbano Antillon.

But what a fight they gave us while it lasted. If anyone's disappointed, I don't know what to tell them. Outside of Hagler vs Hearns, you can't ask for more action in three rounds.

As for what's next, Antillon should never have trouble finding a TV fight. Ever. He's too exciting. Rios is unfortunately interested in a fight with washed up Marco Antonio Barrera, which I can't see as anything more than a slaughter at this point. It's just not an interesting fight. What would be interesting, in my opinion, is a fight with spoiler and fellow titlist Miguel Vazquez, as those two are the best lightweights in the division now that Marquez, Soto and Guerrero are moving up. And it's an intriguing clash of styles, too.

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Rios is Entertaining

…Very much so. It wasn’t so much a war as it was a brief nuclear exchange and Antillon cracked fast. Rios is really something. I’d say more but I’m fuming with anger over Lara getting robbed.

by lightmartyr on Jul 10, 2011 12:25 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah my neighbors that don't watch boxing got to hear a rant from my pissed off ass as soon as the fight was over.

My other neighbor that IS into boxing was at a birthday party so he had to get my texts about Rios the destroyer

by SilverNBlackZach! on Jul 10, 2011 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I got to see this live!! Home Depot Center is a fantastic venue for the money. $50 tickets for me and my friend, we were sitting four rows up from the floor and had a fantastic view of the ring. We were pros and snuck in our own beers, saving us the pain of $13 Tecates. Fight crowd was intense; I don’t think I’ve ever been to a fight were both fighters were booed louder than cheered on their ring entrance.

by theninthlayer on Jul 10, 2011 1:37 AM EDT reply actions

I was there too. My first paying fight card and I had a great time. Julio Cesar Chavez entered a few feet away from me and that was an awesome moment. My boy Cintron lost but Molina deserved the win. The main event was electric, too bad it didn’t last longer. Mercito Gesta-Brandon Rios soon?

by JasonTryp on Jul 10, 2011 1:55 AM EDT reply actions

Cintron looked awful

From start to finish.

What a way to blow an opportunity.

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali

by pakinpower on Jul 10, 2011 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah he blew it, so I guess he should just go down to Welterweight like he said he was before the fight and fight slightly smaller guys than Molina. Molina has talent though, and is hard to fight him.

by JasonTryp on Jul 10, 2011 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Props to Molina

He seized the moment

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali

by pakinpower on Jul 10, 2011 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions

You just knew this would be a war.

I sat ringside with the Bam Bam crew, next to Mikey Garcia and the Goosen Tudur trainer, Ricky Funez. The verdict we all saw. Rios was not just too young and far too strong for the amazingly game Antillon.

Rios had better defense and offensive tools than I anticipated. His uppercut I awesome. His hands were kept high. Overall, he seems to be learning and listening to Garcia….but most f all taking hi career seriously. He better….because they have big plans for him.

I don’t expect him to be matched with anyone trickier than Acosta, who was about as slick a test as his handlers are interested in seeing for the moment. Look for guys to come straight at him because he is an attraction. And nothing is more unattractive than watching a guy like Rios chasing another fighter all over the place.

Rios is an action warrior. And about as much fun to watch as anyone at the moment.

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali

by pakinpower on Jul 10, 2011 1:57 AM EDT reply actions

Were you the guy in sunglasses--

the one chewing gum, cell phoning and talking up Mrs. Margo? The one sitting right behind Antonio?

Anyway, I understand now that you weren’t examining the Margo eye on television and from the comfort of home;
however, a glance behind sunglasses is still not exactly an eye exam performed by an ophthalmologist—

I wonder if “Bam-Bam” or Antonio are particualrly nice guys, but I wouldn’t argue with that crew over seating arrangements.
Plus—sure, Antonio is the hero of the stable: He’s willing to be beaten to death :)

Wouldn’t bet my last dime on the long-term health of either Rios or Margo. They need a death-shield Chevron for that gym.
But boring they are not.

by Don From Prov on Jul 10, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Ha.

No, I was sitting right behind Arum but moved over when came with his wife et al.

I could only look at what I could see. I was looking for deformity, not doing a retina scan or an MRI. I can only say he dies not look like Igor!

As to them being nice guys, I have no idea. They were certainly polite as he’ll but so am I ..and they no nothing of my years as a gangster doing hits for my capo ;)

In all seriousness, I lik good guys but these guys are fighters. I suspect and have heard Rios is a pretty wild kid. I think there is concern about him keeping in th straight and narrow. An keeping focused on staying in shape between fights. That…is not one of the concerns around Margarito. He is a strong tough, big man who looks cut from stone…but wears a smile every time I see him in public. I think you can say fairly that he loves the whole gestalt of being a Boxer.

Funez btw told me that as Joe Gossens trainer of Casamayor then Corrales, Diego was always going up and down in weight between fights, which put a lot of pressure on hid training and undermined his full gallant and potential. He also said the worst ‘weight’ offender was James Toney.

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali

by pakinpower on Jul 10, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Don

I can tell you Mikey Garcia was the nicest kid in the world. Very respectful. Very articulate. And ready for anyone . He expects to fight on the Pacquiao undercard in November with either Gonzalez or a kid from Argentina. I couldn’t remember the name

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali

by pakinpower on Jul 10, 2011 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I do/did/continue to imagine that, like most boxers (IMO)

they are gentleman, though I don’t doubt Rios—again, like many fighters—has a bit of wild in him.

And yes, Margarito always seems to be smiling in public.
I’d mention that I also greatly admire the fighting spirit of both men but do question you now that you admit no retina scan :)

P.S. Still wouldn’t argue with them about seating arrangements!

by Don From Prov on Jul 10, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I moved over a helluva lot faster than the referee stopped Rios from killing Antillon.

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali

by pakinpower on Jul 10, 2011 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I can also report from talking with and watching them interact, the hero of the Garcia stable is Antonio Margarito. When he came in, everyone switched seats or moved to make room for him.

He looked in amazing shape. Apparently he’s never not in shape. I looked at his eye as best I could behind his sunglasses and it did not look odd; certainly nothing like Vasquez. He is set to fight Cotto in almost assuredly the Garden in NYC in December.

When I asked the Garcia posse what they thought, they said they expect he same result as first fight. Clearly Margarito is their friend but they are without question confident in his ability. Still.

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali

by pakinpower on Jul 10, 2011 2:03 AM EDT reply actions

Not only was this fight a monstrous display of skilled brutality from start to finish, Gus in no way shape or form annoyed me with his commentary. Strange night, amazing night. Rios is the one to watch, and at this point, he’s gonna crawl up to 2nd place on my favorite active fighters list.

by The Twillness on Jul 10, 2011 3:59 AM EDT reply actions