Moments ago Top Rank staged the final press conference for this weekend’s Miguel Acosta-Brandon Rios WBA lightweight title bout. Set to take place inside of the Pearl Theatre in the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, the bout will give us the chance to see if Rios is for real or if he isn’t quite ready for the big stage as he tangles with his ultra confident Venezuelan foe.
Speaking mere minutes before the presser was to take place, Rios admitted at this point, just two days away from his moment of truth, that he really has no nerves or butterflies at this point and is simply ready to rumble. Rios went 3-0 in 2010 and saw his year highlighted with a dominating 7th round disqualification victory over D.C. native Anthony Peterson last September.
Acosta in somewhat of an enigma in the sport but he has reeled off nineteen straight victories in compiling a 28-3-2 record over eleven-plus years as a pro. In July of 2009 he scored a mild upset in stopping previously-undefeated Urbano Antillon in Nyarit Mexico to score the WBA crown that he now holds. Throughout the lead up to the fight the 32-year old has insisted that Rios isn’t ready for a stage this big.
Also on hand at the press conference, making a surprise appearance as a photographer, was Nonito Donaire, who is still basking in the glow of his 2nd round knockout over Fernando Montiel at the Mandalay Bay last weekend. Donaire is now the WBC and WBO bantamweight champion and promoter Bob Arum confirmed that his next fight will likely be in the San Francisco Bay area sometime in May.
Donaire and Rios share the same trainer, former junior lightweight champion Robert Garcia.
For images of Brandon Rios, Miguel Acosta, Nonito Donaire, Bob Arum, Robert Garcia and others please check out the slideshow on the left or click HERE
