Now that Brandon Rios is finished fighting at 135 pounds, promoter Bob Arum is thinking about potential opponents for Rios at junior welterweight. As previously reported on ***********.com, the first fight Arum thought of making for him in the wake of Rios 11th-round stoppage of Englands John Murray is a seemingly cant-miss, all-action battle against another unbeaten brawler Arums Top Rank Inc. promotes. Well, [Rios] can pretty well fight everybody, Arum said. But I think the fight that would probably be the most exciting fight that could be made would be Brandon Rios against Mike Alvarado. Boy, would that be a [fight]. Id pay to see that fight. QR Rios rapidly has become a television attraction due to his fan-friendly style. Denvers Alvarado also enhanced his reputation by rallying to knock out heavy-handed Colombian Breidis Prescott (24-4, 19 KOs) in the 10th and final round of a bout the 31-year-old Alvarado (32-0, 23 KOs) clearly was losing on the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez undercard Nov. 12 in Las Vegas. The 25-year-old Rios (29-0-1, 21 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., thought he would move up to 140 pounds for his next fight even before losing his WBA title at the scales Friday, when he failed three times to meet the lightweight limit of 135 for his fight against Englands Murray. Rios said before beating Murray (31-2, 18 KOs) on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden that the only fight that could keep him at lightweight at least for the early portion of 2012 was a showdown with unbeaten Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa (21-0, 16 KOs). Gamboa hasnt even fought at junior lightweight, though, so a fight against Rios wouldve had to take place no higher than 135, if it was going to be Gamboas next fight. Rios also expressed interest in facing Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KOs) at 140 pounds, assuming Marquez cannot secure an immediate fourth fight against Pacquiao. Hopefully we could get him, Rios said of Marquez. If we fight with him, thatd be great. If not, theres [Marcos] Maidana or someone like that there. I want a war. @ The Scene
Rios would do Alvarado pretty easily, in my opinion. The Maidana fight ain't happening for obvious reasons. So we shouldn't waste time talking about that, or any other bout involving a GBP fighter. I think Bradley's a far more likely opponent if Arum doesn't decide to keep them apart for too long.
If I was him I'd be steering more towards Maidana. JMM would literally box the **** out of Rios. Guaranteed loss. It's just talk anyway, I doubt he'll fight an opponent of JMM's or Maidana's quality for his first fight above 135 pounds.
Brandon rios is not on their level imo and nowhere near it maidana ko's Rios within 6 rounds. He's not hard to hit to say the least I can imagine he wont be fighting maidana or marquez any time soon his promotion team wont be letting him near anyone like that.
As much as I like Rios I think Maidana brutally handles him and JMM outboxes the sh*t outer him...definate losses on his record. I think he should take a easier, light punching opponant for his 1st fight @ 140
Maidana struggles with boxers and movers, someone coming forward plays right into his hands. If Rios wants a war Maidana would happily oblige.
