Unbeaten lightweight Brandon Rios will fight for his first world title on Saturday, February 26th. However, it will not be against WBC champion Humberto Soto. Rios? manager, Cameron Dunkin, confirmed to Fightnews that the unbeaten fighter from Oxnard will take on WBA champion Miguel Acosta at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. ?We just finished the deal a few days ago,? said Dunkin.
Rios (26-0, 19 KO?s) was scheduled to face Humberto Soto, who defeated Urbano Antillon earlier this month in Anaheim, CA. However, because of the brutal beating both fighters gave to one another, Soto wants more time to recuperate.
Acosta (28-3-2, 22 KO?s) won his world title belt with a 12 round split decision victory over Paulus Moses in May. In his last bout, Acosta knocked out Armando Cordoba in the first round in a non-title bout last month. Acosta has won his last 19 fights in a row.
Rios last fought on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito last month at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX. He stopped Omri Lowther in the fifth round of a scheduled 10 round bout.
Prior to the Lowther fight, Rios scored an impressive victory over previously-unbeaten Anthony Peterson in September. After a slow start, Rios dominated the action before the fight was stopped after the seventh round because of repeated fouls by Peterson.
