Moments ago at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, former lightweight champion Brandon ?Bam Bam? Rios won an ugly and uneventful twelve-round split-decision over Cuba?s Richard Abril. Scores were 116-112 and 115-113 in favor or Rios and 117-111 towards Abril.
The fight was a big letdown compared to the pre-fight trash talk that had taken place between the two men. Rios was aggressive throughout the contest while Abril preferred to backpedal and box cautiously as opposed to deciding to engage.
There was also excessive holding that took place that marred any real action from happening.
Rios failed to make the lightweight limit of 135 pounds for this bout, as was the case for his December victory over John Murray, as he weighed in at 137 pounds at yesterday?s weigh-in. A move to the junior welterweight class is in order and maybe there Rios will find himself a bit more comfortable and in the ring with someone more willing to fight his kind of fight.
Rios will surely still have interest in a July meeting with Juan Manuel Marquez, as that fight has been a hot topic in recent weeks.
