Things were very heated today at the downtown Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles, California as WBA lightweight champion Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios and contender Urbano Antillon had some scathing words for one another during a press conference for their July 9th bout. Rios and Antillon meet at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on Showtime in what figures to be an all-action battle.
They were to have met a little over a year ago but an injury from Rios prevented the fight from moving forward as Antillon questioned the severity of his condition. There has seemed to be a serious amount of animosity lingering since then and the two men even had to be separated at one point during the presser by Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who added ‘Remember, you don’t get paid to fight outside of the ring’.
<--- Slideshow: Brandon Rios and Urbano Antillon go face to face in Los Angeles
Thirteen months later and face to face with his foil, Rios shed a little light into the situation and gave his take on the feud.
?I?m a clown and I joke around a lot but this guy really gets under my skin and it?s not going to affect me in the ring,? said Rios. ?If anything, it?s going to help me. He?s opening his mouth and talking about my wife. You don?t mention my family. I didn?t talk about his family. He made it personal. He named my wife and brought my family into it. And now he?s going to pay.?
Perhaps will be looking to dish out the same kind of punishment onto Antillon as did Miguel Acosta in July of 2009 in Nyarit, Mexico. In that fight the lanky Venezuelan overcome some rocky moments early before turning up the pressure late as he stopped Antillon in the ninth while also lifting the interim WBA strap into the air.
Acosta is an important character in the whole saga as he served as Rios’ counterpart for his first world title shot inside of the Palms Casino in Las Vegas this past February. Acosta gave Rios trouble early by tagging him with clean power shots but would eventually cripple under the Oxnard fighter’s intense pressure, falling by way of 10th round TKO after suffering three knockdowns. Advertisement
Having bested Antillon’s previous conqueror, Rios can’t help but to be a bit cocky and to rub it in while issuing a grave forewarning.
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?On July 9th I will knock [Antillon] out and show the world why I am the best 135-pound fighter in the world. That?s why I became the champion. That?s why I beat Acosta and you didn?t. I knocked him out and he knocked you out. On July 9th you?re going to get more than knocked out. Your career is going to be done and you will never fight for a title again. I promise you that and I don?t break my promises,” issued Rios.
Antillon was also heartbroken last December when poured his heart out in going toe to toe with WBC champion Humberto Soto despite losing a competitive decision. His fight with Rios may be his last crack at a belt and he knows all too well what lies ahead.
?I just have to say that the third time?s a charm, I guess. I?ve fought for a world title twice before and I?m going to win it on my third try. We?re two fighters who come forward so I know it?s going to be a good fight. We?re both hard-headed and don?t like to back down. On July 9 Maywood is going to be champion.”
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
