Brandon Rios Likely Returning March 3 on HBO, Staying at Lightweight
by Scott Christ on Jan 8, 2012 9:16 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
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Brandon Rios, who lost his WBA lightweight title on the scales before his December 3 fight against John Murray in New York, will return to the ring on March 3, with HBO televising. And the fighter will be staying at 135 pounds for now. From RingTV.com and trainer Robert Garcia:
"We know that we will be fighting with Rios on March 3 on HBO, and the word is that it's going to be here in Los Angeles. We were told that it might be at the Home Depot Center, or maybe at the Staples Center," said Garcia.
"We're still not sure where, but they told us LA on March 3. We don't have an opponent yet, but I'm sure that Cameron Dunkin and Top Rank will give us the name soon. But that's what's going to happen with Brandon."
Rios (29-0-1, 22 KO) had three terrific fights in 2011, defeating Miguel Acosta, Urbano Antillon, and Murray, but he's been known to struggle to make 135 pounds for a while now, even before beating Acosta last February. Dunkin keeps saying "fast food, fast food," like that's the only problem, but it probably isn't.
They do have Victor Conte working with Rios already, and they're serious about figuring out if he can make 135 anymore. Garcia believes they'll fight a couple more times at the weight, then go up to 140.
As for possible opponent, who knows? 135 has plenty of options, but not a lot of marquee guys. A title fight against Antonio DeMarco, who holds the WBC belt, could be really fantastic, and while Rios is not currently ranked by the WBC, I'm sure that could be, uh, amended. But it could really be anyone right now.
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Yeah, I don’t really know. Unless there’s some surprise in opponent, I’m not sure there’s really much left for him to do at 135 whether he can make it or not.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 8, 2012 10:15 PM EST up reply actions
Good question
Unless they have no confidence in his power at 140…..
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
Yeap, that's the one
I’m sure Arum would STRONGLY prefer to do Rios-Gamboa at 135, this is why Rios is waiting for Gamboa to catch up.
It’s pretty straightforward, really:
Garcia believes they’ll fight a couple more times at the weight– first one co-feature with Gamboa fighting at 130 and the second one against Gamboa at 135.
This way they avoid having Gamboa skip any divisions on his way up.
WOW
I just noticed Yuriorkis Gamboa IS ALREADY RANKED AT LIGHTWEIGHT BY THE WBA, even though he’s never fought at the weight, hasn’t announced what specific weight class he is moving up to and will quite possibly fight at junior lightweight in his next bout.
LIGHTWEIGHT (135 Lbs / 61.23 Kgs)
World Champion: V A C A N T
Won Title:
Last Mandatory:
Last Defense:
WBC: ANTONIO DE MARCO – IBF: MIGUEL VASQUEZ
WBO: JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
1. RICHARD ABRIL (INT. CHAMP.) CUB
2. JORGE LINARES VEN
3. BRANDON RIOS USA
4. YURIORKIS GAMBOA CUB
5. PAULUS MOSES NAM
6. DARLEY PEREZ COL
7. MIGUEL ACOSTA VEN
8. MERCITO GESTA PHI
9. NIHITO ARAKAWA JPN
10. RYUJI MIGAKI JPN
11. JOHN MOLINA USA
12. TAKASHI MIURA JPN
13. ART HOVHANNISYAN ARM
14. DORIN SPIVEY USA
15. ANTHONY MEZAACHE (WBA I/C) FRA
… just freakin’ speechless …
unified Champion
Brandon Rios needs to unify the titles if he really decides to stay @lightweight. Don’t waste his time. For the WBC TITLE holder and Go after the IBF title holder. Bang there’s your 2 fights at lightweight. If he gets nutty and fights a 3rd fight at lightweight. Then challenge the WBO title holder. Now that’s building a legacy. Fuck I should be his manager!! -Dominic Fernandez
by DiE_HARDFER on Jan 9, 2012 2:56 AM EST via mobile reply actions
He’d probably just get stripped of half the titles trying to unify them. The WBC in particular is not wild about unification.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
Now that everyone recognizes the WBO
It’s nearly impossible to unify unless you’re willing to defend against all comers 5 times a year or so.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jan 9, 2012 3:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Besides
I still think Rios loses to guys who are active, can box and have a chin. I think Vazquez would beat him, for instance.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jan 9, 2012 3:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He said post fight that it’s possible that the cold altitudes in Mexico made it harder for him to shed weight, whereas in Oxnard he was able to sweat away the pounds. Rios DeMarco is FOTY in my opinion. I’d love to see that fight. At 135, even as a walking dead man Rios is a giant and by far the most powerful/strongest one at that weight. 140 he’d be above average, and with the right conditioning he might be a monster at 147. Pc!
"According to all the laws of aerodynamics the bumble-bee should not fly, but the bumble-bee does not know this and so flies anyway."
Then we can see the fight we’ve all been waiting for: Rios Ortiz! Buahahahaha!!!
"According to all the laws of aerodynamics the bumble-bee should not fly, but the bumble-bee does not know this and so flies anyway."
A fetus???
I
think there’s a law in Texas against that shit
yeah there is
but the commision doesn’t enforce it
by journeyintosound on Jan 9, 2012 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
I'm surprised Abril is ranked so high
I know he beat Acosta, which surprised me, but he’s literally beaten nobody else of consequence. A few cards break the other way and he’d have wins over Prescott and Lundy. I thought he beat Prescott close but clear myself.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jan 9, 2012 3:22 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Are you really surprised, though? It seems entirely predictable to me. Shit, Dorin Spivey is 14, and he’s terrible.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
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