It’s not a secret that Brandon Rios’ fight this weekend with Richard Abril is a bit personal. The two lightweight fighters have twice engaged in physical scuffles in Miami and Los Angeles, and they will be facing off inside of the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada this Saturday to settle their feud. Rios and Abril were both inside of the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas and Rios was his usual talkative self, as always, as he spoke during interviews.
Rios had begun preparing for a fight with Yuriorkis Gamboa, but the fight fell apart. Now he is going to face Abril, who is far less known. Rios spoke about his rival, and how he isn’t going to let this opportunity slip away. ?I?m not letting this unknown coming in and ruining eight years of hard work I put into building my professional boxing career,” Rios said “I beat Miguel Acosta when he was in his prime unlike Abril who beat him on his way down on short notice.”
Rios lost his WBA lightweight title in his last fight, as he was overweight at the scales before facing John Murray. Rios would end up knocking Murray out inside of Madison Square Garden, but admits he was hurt when his belt was stripped and promises not to let it happen again. ?I was disappointed when I lost the title because I lost the title to myself, on the scale and not to an opponent.” Rios said. “It was my fault 100%. The minute I returned home after that fight, I went straight to the gym to resume training and hired a nutritionist. It was the best decision I ever made. I?m a beast. I feel so much more energetic and powerful and I?m not missing meals. I?m never hungry.”
Rios had swore that he was going to fight at 135 pounds one more time against Gamboa, but the reality is that he simply wants to be a champion again.
?I originally came back to 135 pounds to fight Gamboa and to win back my world lightweight title,” Rios stated. ” I wanted my title back. I?m not the same without a world championship belt around my waist. I also think a world title makes me worth more. It makes me more valuable.”
There are rumors that Rios could face off with Juan Manuel Marquez in July and he admits that it is something he would love.
?Juan Manuel M?rquez and I have a lot of options in 2012 and a lot of opportunities.” stated Rios. “I think this could be a career year for either of us. One of us could end up as the Fighter of the Year.?
