Al Bello - Getty Images
Brandon Rios is ready for all comers, and would love a crack at Juan Manuel Marquez this summer. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Though Brandon Rios is currently reportedly in talks to face Yuriorkis Gamboa on April 14 in Las Vegas, the ex-lightweight titlist is hoping to land a July 14 date in Cowboys Stadium against Juan Manuel Marquez, too.
From Chris Robinson of the Examiner:
"I would love a fight like that. I would love to fight that guy. ... He’s very smart, very talented, and when he throws his punches he throws to make sure he lands; he’s very accurate. A fight like that, you just got to watch out, always stay on your toes, and be ready for whatever he brings because Marquez is going to come and he’s going to come to win."
Bob Arum apparently still plans to run with Marquez at Cowboys Stadium on that date despite the fact that Lamont Peterson has signed for a May 19 rematch against Amir Khan, and Rios would be as good an opponent as anyone out there.
Rios (29-0-1, 22 KO) was successful in his December 3 fight against John Murray, but lost his WBA lightweight title on the scales despite a valiant and frankly dangerous attempt to make weight in the final days before the fight. His team has hired a nutrionist to try and keep him in the lightweight division for the time being, but he's probably not long for that division, and Marquez has indicated a desire to stay over 135 himself, so that fight could be at 140 if it were to happen.
I still think Arum is crazy with this Cowboys Stadium thing, but I've thought Arum was crazy about a lot of things that worked. Marquez vs Rios is probably a better big stadium fight than Marquez vs Peterson, but you're still lacking that big, huge A-side star to make a fight like that really pop. Marquez is a big star nowadays, but he's not Manny Pacquiao, and Manny Pacquiao's fights in the stadium were disappointments financially.
0 recs | 41 comments
JMM too much for Rios.
rgb - February 10, 2012
I’d be surprised if Marquez would take that fight tbh.
theninthlayer - February 10, 2012
I was thinking the same thing. But they’re both respectable Mexicans so it’s POSSIBLE that they could bring in a lotta fans
Krimson - February 10, 2012
This is the fight i want to see
before Rios – Gamboa.
WAR!
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
Surely the Mexican fans would love it too and it would sell well. You know that with their styles it’s got FOTY (not again!) written all over it.
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
JMM takes on a steam roller… it’ll look like this:
http://youtu.be/BnCuwpnwscE?t=21s
cylee1180 - February 10, 2012
I don’t think that would be the case at all to be honest.
Marquez hasn’t got to where he is by fighting ordinary fighters.
Nobody walks through JMM and i’m sure he’d be potshotting and countering the charging Rios all night long.
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
jajajajajajaja
everyone thought Juan Dias was to and look what happend to him Rios is much like Baby bull Marquez will dominate
CloverG13 - February 13, 2012
I think this would be outrageously good.
Oli Goldstein - February 10, 2012
+1
cylee1180 - February 10, 2012
+1
Boss Man - February 10, 2012
I like Rios as a fighter but i think his style might be made for JMM and i lean slightly towards Marquez if this happens though i think it would be hard to pick, especially after how Marquez handled Manny again last time.
Please let this happen! :)
Also sorts out who is numero uno at 135.
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
Unless they did it at 140 that is, as SC mentioned.
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
Could they not team it up with Chavez Jr – Andy Lee to bump up the attendance?
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
If they wanted to hold Chavez back until July, sure, that’d be an idea. It would also help them sell it on PPV. And to be honest I’d be happy to pay for a Marquez-Rios and Chavez-Lee PPV. In my crazy dream world, they also put Donaire-Arce on the show.
Scott Christ - February 10, 2012
wow that would be an amazing ppv..but do you think theyd hold out one of the fights for a pac undercard?
Vicmatic1 - February 10, 2012
I doubt they would for Chavez – Lee because that’s already got it’s own provisional date but then that could change, i suppose.
Maybe Donaire – Arce might land on the Pac – Bradley undercard?
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
Arum
can wait for Rios – Gamboa to become more tender, then season and marinade it, switch the oven on and it should be cooked just right around october/november time.
Rios – Marquez is ready to be served now.
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
I don't think Gamboa is big enough to fight Rios
I know that Rios wants to fight him….but getting Gamboa on board is no gimme.
pakinpower - February 10, 2012
Barring Instant Age, Marquez takes Rios without much trouble at all. Much more skilled, and just as strong.
BoxAnne - February 10, 2012
I wouldn't be at all surprised.
He ’s also got the experience and constant high level of competition advantage.
Of course that long list of hard fights could also work against him.
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
I should have said i would be a bit surprised if he beat him “with ease” , but not surprised that he beat him.
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
Not that you actually said “with ease”.
I just re-read the post, properly this time. :)
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
agreed
But I still think it would be entertaining to watch.
Matt Miller - February 10, 2012
It would probably look a lot like the early rounds of Rios-Acosta, to be honest, with Marquez just too skilled, too accurate, and hitting too hard for Rios to pressure effectively. I think JMM is too good and too tough to fade under Rios’ pressure like Acosta did, but it would be a hell of a fun fight.
Verklemptomaniac - February 10, 2012
i like rios in this matchup
too young too strong
nickfoxx - February 10, 2012
Me too--dare I say?
Boss Man - February 10, 2012
Me three
JMM is getting all the credit in the world for his tactical fight with Manny but Rios is a fresh hitter who will make Juan Dias and Katsidis look like the ordinary opponents they were.
Unless JMM stops him….Brandon could stop him. He’s not exactly immune to getting put on his ass.
pakinpower - February 10, 2012
This kind of makes me think that despite Rios’ claims that the ESPN report about him wanting Gamboa at 140 was wrong, he may no longer believe he can make 135.
bachwards - February 10, 2012
He might be the smartest one involved in his weight situation if he just goes, “Guys, I’m not a lightweight anymore.”
Scott Christ - February 10, 2012
Rios wants everyone.
The kid is a fighter.
pakinpower - February 10, 2012
If he can’t fight the much smaller Gamboa, he’ll move up a class and fight the merely somewhat smaller Marquez. I’d like to see him in the ring with someone his own size for a change.
bachwards - February 10, 2012
A, I think Marquez is a solid 143/144 now.
He wasn’t the first time he tried to go up to welter (drinking urine and lifting large stones on mountaintops) but last November he looked much better physically at that weight. In fact, he was….or appeared to be… bigger than Manny.
As for Rios, I am surprised that he can fight at 135 but I am told he can…and that the reason he failed to make weight last time is because Garcia left him alone in camp to deal with the Margarito hearings with the NYAC and such.
The kid is immature and inexperienced and without supervisionhe failed to adheer to the regime set out to cut the necessary weight.
Personally, I’m not so sure myself. Brandon is a big kid (although I am told he walks around now while training at 143/44 so he’s within range).
My questiion is whether Gamboa could fight UP that high…but I am told he is ready to sign. Rios already has. Let’s see.
pakinpower - February 11, 2012
If Marquez-Rios ever fight, I’m quite confient Rios would enjoy every physical advantage in the ring. He’d be taller, longer, and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t heavier.
bachwards - February 11, 2012
I don’t doubt that’s true. One thing about boxing and cutting weight that bothers me is whether or not the best interests of the fighter are being served by staying at their lowest weight when their body is screaming otherwise.
Nevertheless, I do think he fights Gamboa next.
Either fight is interesting because Brandon is Brandon. you know what you are getting. Gamboa is a mixed bag but a super talent. And JMM is just a superlative boxer.
pakinpower - February 11, 2012
JMM for the win
Ring IQ, experience, stiff jab and movement will nullify Rios within four rounds. Make it happen!
honorablecbm - February 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Maybe, but not with 4 rounds.
Boss Man - February 10, 2012
Man i would love for this to happen! I don’t think it will because Rios isn’t really a household name….it’s a pretty intriguing matchup though
rpm0003 - February 10, 2012
Dude, where have you been
pakinpower - February 10, 2012
?
Do you think Rios and JMM would fill Cowboy stadium? I’m saying I dont know if a casual fan really knows him yet…thats what I was trying to get at. I’ve seen several of his fights, I just don’t know if he and JMM would be enough of a draw to fill the whole stadium
rpm0003 - February 11, 2012
Huh. Rios is a BIG name
Boss Man - February 10, 2012
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