He's lost 2 out of his last 3 fights.... It's obvious movement gives him big time trouble. He'S no bum, he has some very good tools, IRIN CHIN, good power, a very good jab, which he does not use often. I mean, they can leave him how he is, & he could be known as a GATTI type brawler, but I believe Rios/Garcia he can be more then that, a better fighter. He's got some good qualities, and he is what he is a classic brawler, but IMO a couple little tweaks he can Improve a ton. What should ROBERT do though;???? Philly Shell/??? LoL I think he needs to improve his DEFENSE, use the JAB a lot more, and improve his stamina dramatically. His former stablemate MARGARITO was a classic pressure fighter like Rios, but to use this style you must be in top shape with good stamina, as alot of the times they have LATE STOPPAGES while behind on the cards, like Margo/Cotto1. In the RIOS/ALVARADO REMATCH, Mike seemed much fresher late in the fight & was able to apply his gameplan, while Rios seemed fatigued & could not do.much. It definitely does not help.that RIOS gains HUGE amounts of weight beetween fights. He was 161 Fight.night, in a few weeks he will be 170, then close to 180, ridiculous.
I think he needs to turn into a boxer puncher,when he's walking forward you know hes gonna punch, he never times you he just comes forward and swings He needs to mix it up and counter punch sometimes so he can catch his opponent throwing
He just needs to keep improving what he's already been working on. His parrying is better, his head movement is better, his guard is better. Keep working on those things and bring him back to the fundamentals of cutting the ring off. I don't think he came in prepared to chase Alvarado and was caught time and time again walking in straight up. Against Acosta he showed much smarter pressure tactics.
Jab. He can have alot more success with movers if he jabs them. The thing is he has a very good jab. It is so powerful like Mikeys jab. The difference is Mikey uses his at all times which is why he sets up his combinations nicely. If Rios would work off that jab to work himself inside or backing his opponents to the ropes he could be damn near unstoppable with his chin and power. I was yelling at him to use the damn jab against Abril and Alvarado 2. Hell he wobbled Alvarado with the jab early on. A jab!
Can't see Bam Bam coming back from this. His career will be done and dusted within the next 3 years. He is a disgrace to boxing.
Teach him how to use the right hand AND USE THAT JAB Tell him straight up that if he doesn't want to use them like Margarito could then he will become useless. Doesn't even have the height of Margo.
He needs to discipline himself with it though because he brings it back low. The jab disappeared because Alvarado kept punishing Rios with a hard overhand right anytime Rios brought his jab back low. It would be a good tool if he sharpened it, instead of turning it into a defensive liability.
I don't think there is any fixing him. What he does is probably too ingrained. Dude's just a warrior. If he were so inclined, however, I'd think some work on defense couldn't hurt. Slipping and countering, that sort of thing.
he already has his mind set on the way he would like to fight and he's close to 30. sure, he can polish on a few things, use his jab more, keep his hands up, but how is going to get rid of the old habits that he's been accustomed to for years? nevermind all of the punishment that he takes... i have a feeling he's gonna get knocked out in the trilogy then it's going to go down hill..