Brandon Rios and Yuriorkis Gamboa appear headed for an April 14 clash on HBO. (Photos by Al Bello and Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
With opponents not easy to find and the date already pushed back once because of that, Top Rank's Todd duBoef is throwing in the towel on a double-header meant to build to a Brandon Rios vs Yuriorkis Gamboa showdown, and Ryan Burton reports that Rios vs Gamboa right now is the new plan for April 14.
"The plan was for them both to appear in separate fights on the same card. Now I am talking to both HBO about having them fight each other next," DuBoef told BoxingScene.com.
I can't imagine a world where HBO says, "No, no thanks," so if duBoef is serious here, then this is some really exciting news. This is a fight that should make any fight fan salivate. Rios' inside pressure fighting and relentless stalking vs Gamboa's speed, technique, and lightning combinations.
Rios (29-0-1, 22 KO) is coming off of a December win over John Murray, a bloody and brutal affair. The Mexican-American lightweight missed weight for that one, but a nutritionist has been brought in to help him make weight easier and prevent him from being forced to move up in weight just yet.
At 5'8" with a big frame, Rios is a huge lightweight, which could help make up for any talent disadvantages against Gamboa, who has never really fought over featherweight in his career, dabbling a few times at 130. Every fight Rios had in 2011 -- wins over Miguel Acosta, Urbano Antillon, and Murray -- was an exciting fight. He just doesn't know how to be in a bad fight.
Gamboa (21-0, 16 KO) is the true standout of the last decade's influx of Cuban talent, having had almost his entire career, every fight televised in the United States. Unlike most his countrymen, Gamboa can put on good fights and be really thrilling to watch, though he isn't always. He's a brash, confident guy who has no fear of moving up to 135 straight away and taking on arguably the best true lightweight in the world (if you no longer count Juan Manuel Marquez at 135, it's Rios or Miguel Vazquez).
Gamboa's two wins in 2011 were both trademark types: He slashed through Jorge Solis in March and made a good fighter look pathetic, and in October he easily beat Daniel Ponce De Leon, without taking any risks or making it much fun to watch.
If Rios vs Gamboa gets made for April 14, I don't care what Mayweather or Pacquiao sign for their next fights: This will be the best fight on the schedule, and the one I will be looking forward to seeing the most. Here's hoping this beauty of a matchup comes through.
0 recs | 36 comments
Is that what Victor Conte is calling himself nowadays?
Love love love this fight. How can’t you
Sweet science - January 29, 2012
It’s actually not Conte. I think they asked him for some advice and analysis on what Brandon should do, then brought in a guy named Cecilio Flores to actually work with and monitor Brandon. Flores is working with Pavlik, too.
Scott Christ - January 29, 2012
Thats good to hear
I’d rather Conte be nowhere near Rios at all. He is such a beast in the ring that I don’t want to have to question his achievements
Sweet science - January 29, 2012
To be fair
I would think that Conte would stay within the rules because he is under the suspicion from people like you and me. Honestly, I think that every nutritionist is doping their clients right now except for Conte.
Waldo Rastel - January 29, 2012
You may be right, but that’s an awful big blanket to say “every nutritionist is doping their clients”.
Kory Kitchen - January 29, 2012
It makes sense economically. In order to be hired as a nutritionist you have to show results. What is the easiest way to get results? Drugs. Only the “best” nutritionists get hired at the top level.
This logic train is obviously speculative but it is so ridiculously advantageous to cheat as a nutritionist, I would question why anyone would not try it.
Waldo Rastel - January 30, 2012
i do not trust Conte, because he specialized in drugs that cannot be detected
BoxAnne - January 30, 2012
nice
Gamboa is gonna really have to be on his toes with this one. If he can deal with Rios pressuring him, he will win. If not…..Late TkO
DiE_HARDFER - January 29, 2012 via mobile
this is a very good news, if they are only waiting for the HBO aproval, well, there is no way this fight can’t be done, cause i don’t think HBO dare to reject a fight like this, about the fight, well i think gamboa is a better boxer than rios, and i’m pretty sure he is going to win by ko… rios puts a lot of pressure but gamboa is faster and the way he moves on the ring can easily go through that pressure…
EL CIERTO (VEN) - January 29, 2012
This is great news……and I am salivating. Love it when the elite step up to the plate.
Early thoughts:.Not sure how Gamboa will carry the weight.,and if Rios can make weight comfortably ( a HUGE if), I’m thinking he can wear Gamboa down.
DPlainview - January 29, 2012
Can’t wait for this either, and that is exactly what I would be thinking if it was signed.
Eoin_not_ian - January 29, 2012
Forget Mayweather vs Pacquiao... This fight is the bomb
The only fight i would want to see more then this is “Rios Vs Ortiz -This time its personal”
TheBod - January 29, 2012
Hope they do this in Vegas or L.A. I'll surely make the drive to attend
PhinsAllDay - January 29, 2012 via mobile
It’s in Vegas. Mandalay Bay.
Scott Christ - January 29, 2012
Thank Scott
PhinsAllDay - January 29, 2012 via mobile
This is so great. Im so psyked for this fight. Its awesome that Gamboa has the balls to move up like this.
sarangrat - January 29, 2012
Better rushed than never, I guess. I wouldn’t say there’s no chance this is boring, but it’s 99.99% guaranteed.
El Destruyo - January 29, 2012
The only chance it has of being dull is Gamboa dominating. However I think that’s off-set by the fact that Rios is so utterly fearless and stubborn. He’ll get knocked out or stopped by a barrage of ugly punishment before he just lets it go to the cards.
Scott Christ - January 29, 2012
Every time I think of this match-up, I can’t help but feel like Rios has got a ludicrous size advantage. This isn’t a case where the size difference will be perpetually exaggerated, like Pacquiao-Marquez III, but I think it could look a lot like Margarito-Cotto did in terms of the big, bad wolf literally looming over the infinitely more skillful smaller guy. It should be a beaut.
Oli Goldstein - January 29, 2012
Gamboa’s going to look tiny next to Rios. It might look more like Pacquiao vs Margarito in some ways, except more like Pacquiao vs 2008 Margarito.
Scott Christ - January 29, 2012
Yeah, that’s the one.
Oli Goldstein - January 29, 2012
To make matters worse
Gamboa’s best weight was probably Flyweight. But there’s a huge chasm in talent here. This is an old school risk on the part of Gamboa, and I respect that. But if they were the same size, this wouldn’t even be a contest.
Brickhaus - January 29, 2012 via mobile
Did you mean featherweight?
Kory Kitchen - January 29, 2012
If Gamboa can carry his power, he will KO Rios (Vazquez hurt and Kd’s Rios and couldn’t finish, I don’t think Gamboa will make the same mistake). I would LOVE LOVE to see this fight. Hope it gets made.
Apprentice - January 29, 2012
No way Gamboa carries both his power and his speed
And the speed in more important IMO
Brickhaus - January 29, 2012 via mobile
Well…. Manny did. I mean, I know it’s unlikely, but maybe Gamboa is a phenom as well. He certainly looks like it sometimes.
Apprentice - January 29, 2012
Not to be a huge wet blanket, but I really doubt this fight will happen. I’m just a huge cynic obviously. Then again I thought Khan would beat Peterson easily, so obviously I don’t know what I’m talking about.
emsc123 - January 29, 2012
If it’s really down to just HBO approving, I can’t imagine this won’t come off. It’s just too good a fight for the network to turn down, and it won’t be THAT expensive.
Scott Christ - January 29, 2012
If HBO don't approve
Then Herishman (Or w,e his name is) needs sacking!
Sweet science - January 29, 2012
There is no way that Top Rank will ever match two of their top stars at this stage of their careers.
They will deny this to the fans, marinate it and milk it forever until one or the other gets beat or retires. They do not give a shit about the fans.
They are notoriously greedy pigs who under-match their prospects, nurse their careers, and milk them dry. The same is true of their senior stars better described as ‘puupets’ by the boxing boxosphere.
Rios will fight tomato cans and Gamboa will retire unknown and porrer than when he defected.
pakinpower - January 29, 2012
You're probably right
But in the other hand, this fight could be a star maker for one of them. If arum doesn’t have a ton of confidence in Rios as a long-term draw (I don’t), then this makes sense
Brickhaus - January 29, 2012 via mobile
I have been wrong once or twice and this may be one of those times. lol
TR thinks the world of Rios as an attraction. They are not however ‘cheerleaders’ for their fighters, especially when one is fighting another.
This match will more than likely be made and whowever wins will be the better. But regardless of who does, their really can’t be any losers.
This one has electricity running right through it
pakinpower - January 29, 2012
Am I misreading you or did you not pick up on the sarcasm?
Apprentice - January 29, 2012
It’s great being so hilariously funny and all, but when we have a clear example of Top Rank doing exactly what you described with Juanma-Gamboa, your post just loses the point.
Through that quote, though, shines a beacon of light and truth. Because, as we all know, they don’t give a rat’s arse about the fans, and instead make shitty fights like Pacquiao-Mosley to take 60 dollars off 1.5 million people.
Oli Goldstein - January 29, 2012
Haters sound so hilariously stupid, I wanted to see if writing like one made me feel better.
It didn’t.
pakinpower - January 29, 2012
great fight if it happens..i like that gamboa said that theres only a few chances to knock of a big name and he learned that from the juanma situation..even tho i like rios in this one..props to gamboa for going up two weight classes if it happens..and if mike alvarado is on the undercard against another bruiser, should be a great night of boxing
Vicmatic1 - January 30, 2012
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