WHAT?S with Brandon Rios and his weight woes? Today he will be facing Richard Abril for the WBA lightweight championship, the same belt that was stripped from him when he also failed to make weight in his previous match against John Murray.
Apparently not contented with that snafu, Rios dropped the ball again this time as he came in a stodgy two pounds above and will be relegated to fighting only for the win, sans the title.
The undefeated Rios (29-0, 22KOs) is one of boxing?s rising stars but he?s certainly not doing his career any favors by losing belts before the actual fight commences.
The Joan Guzman saga a few years ago should be a lesson for Rios. Not too long ago, hard-hitting and undefeated Guzman moved up to the lightweight division due to weight issues (what else).
But incredibly, he threw away two golden opportunities because he couldn?t keep his hand out of the cookie jar. First, he came in three and a half pounds over when he challenged Nate Campbell. The fight was cancelled and Guzman was rushed to the hospital for severe dehydration.
Two fights later, he fought a rematch with Ali Funeka and won, but he never became champion as he came in a whopping nine pounds above the limit.
PREDICTION. To recall, the Rios-Abril matchup came about when Yuriorkis Gamboa, who was slated to fight Rios, decided to bail out claiming there never was any formal agreement for the fight.
During the press conference Abril purposely attended, he pushed Rios and challenged him to a fight.
I?m predicting Rios to put on a good show tonight and stop the truculent Abril inside seven rounds. Unfortunately, I have this feeling we won?t be seeing him in the lightweight division again.
MERCITO GESTA. The rise of this likeable young man from Mandaue City seems to be unstoppable. Today he will be facing Oscar Cuero (15-7, 12KOs) in the undercard and this is a wonderful opportunity for him to showcase his skills.
Though he hasn?t been tested by top-tier opposition yet, the buzz surrounding Mercito (24-0, 112KOs) emanates from his take-no-prisoners approach inside the ring.
He likes to bring the offense and seems to relish exchanges, which makes his style fan-friendly. Plus, he appears to have a solid chin and stamina, which are indispensable weapons when you flaunt an aggressive, feral style.
This writer had the opportunity to speak with Mercito and his dad ringside at a local card last year, and they gingerly offered me several Last Rounds (which I obsequiously accepted, of course).
Mercito?s father, who is a martial-arts practitioner (and still built like a brick house), genuinely loves fight sports and that passion runs deep in the Gesta genes.
He has now joined his son?s camp abroad and judging from what I saw that night when they both kicked back and watched the fights, the father-son chemistry seems to be a symbiotic one. I can only wish them the best.
JMM. Also on hand today is Juan Manuel Marquez, who will be gunning for his fourth world title against Serihy Fedchenko.
The little-known Ukrainian sports a record of 30-1, with 13KOs, but there?s little indication he can pull off an upset against the talented Marquez.
Marquez was previously pining for that fourth match with Pacquiao and even contemplated retirement if that was not feasible, but apparently he has had a change of heart and decided to keep busy with this Fedchenko bout.
My prediction? Marquez by stoppage before the ninth round.
HE SAID IT. ?He was getting ready to fight this little 5?3? midget, and now it completely changes. He was really in the dumps when [Gamboa] pulled out. And now he?s in there with a guy who?s 6 feet tall and really motivated and who can really fight.??Cameron Dunkin, manager of Rios (sports.yahoo.com)
LAST ROUND. It?s on Manuel ?Jun? Zosa Jr. who turns a young and sprightly 60 today. Cheers!
