Brandon Rios to return on June 11 PBC card

Brandon Rios, the lightweight brawler and former titleholder who was last seen in a one-sided loss at welterweight in 2015, will return to the ring after a nearly two-year layoff on June 11, when he faces Aaron Herrera in a PBC on FS1 main event.

Rios, 31, hasn’t been in the ring since he was routed by Timothy Bradley Jr in a WBO welterweight title fight, stopped in the ninth round and looking every bit like a fighter whose wars had caught up to him.

Rios announced his retirement right after that fight, but not long after changed his mind, and eventually decided to continue his career — just without promoters at Top Rank, his manager Cameron Dunkin, and his trainer Robert Garcia.

Now, Rios (33-3-1, 24 KO) will fight on at welterweight, is being trained by Ricky Funez, and for the moment is a free agent, though he will be working with Premier Boxing Champions for this fight, with Estrada Roman Promotions serving as the promoter of record for the bill at Pioneer Event Center in Lancaster, California.

Herrera (32-6-1, 21 KO) is a scrappy 28-year-old club fighter who has lost to his better opposition, including a three-fight losing streak in 2015-16 against prospects Pedro Campa, Regis Prograis, and Mike Reed.

Also on the card, junior welterweight prospect Mario Barrios (18-0, 10 KO) will return against Jose Luis Rodriguez (21-9, 12 KO).