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Brandon Rios said tonight on Twitter that he'd spoken with his manager Cameron Dunkin, and that a fight with Mike Alvarado is set for October 13 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Nonito Donaire will headline that night, likely on HBO.
As you may have heard, it appears the Donaire vs Arce fight has fallen apart, and there has been strong rumor that Toshiaki Nishioka will be Donaire's opponent instead, which is a fight I think that a lot of diehard boxing fans would rather see, as it seems that very few really gave Arce any chance, and saw it as a terrible style matchup for the veteran Mexican warrior.
Donaire vs Nishioka is not yet official, but the feeling is the word will come soon.
Rios (30-0-1, 22 KO) and Alvarado (33-0, 23 KO) are pound-for-pound two of the most exciting fighters in the sport, and both should shine faced against a fellow come-forward brawler. There is some question of whether or not Rios, a former lightweight titlist, will fare as well stepping up to 140 pounds, and we'll be finding that out against a top ten guy in the division rather than a tune-up.
The two both last fought on April 14 in Las Vegas. Rios was given a gift decision against Richard Abril, while Alvarado outpointed Mauricio Herrera in a Fight of the Year contender on the undercard.
This one could well be downright barbaric. And I can't wait.