Beating Brandon Rios

[Pavlik]

I haven't watched enough tape but you are on the right track. Make him fight at mid- range, make space by bumping back. Turn him in to punches. Time his big uppercut with counter hooks. If you can turn him, plant and throw the two, you might slow him down. If he doesn't respect your power he is going to walk you down. I would focus on getting off first, beating him to the punch, getting off combinations and then get out before he counters. He will probably get frustrated and a little careless. I think he can be walked and turned in to some big, straight shots.

Rios would destroy Molina. I would like to see him against someone like Kendall Holt (on a good day). Eventually he will move up and find some tough fights. I think he gets exposed at light welter.

i agree holt or maybe lucas mathysse

[marbleheadmaui]

I haven't watched enough tape but you are on the right track. Make him fight at mid- range, make space by bumping back. Turn him in to punches. Time his big uppercut with counter hooks. If you can turn him, plant and throw the two, you might slow him down. If he doesn't respect your power he is going to walk you down. I would focus on getting off first, beating him to the punch, getting off combinations and then get out before he counters. He will probably get frustrated and a little careless. I think he can be walked and turned in to some big, straight shots.

Rios would destroy Molina. I would like to see him against someone like Kendall Holt (on a good day). Eventually he will move up and find some tough fights. I think he gets exposed at light welter.

Exposed as what exactly? I don't think there are secrets here. In addition what if he consoliodates the 135's?

[Julius Rain]

Put a level A fighter in the ring with him

[marbleheadmaui]

Put a level A fighter in the ring with him

Rim shot!

[Gocougars3]

Exposed as what exactly? I don't think there are secrets here. In addition what if he consoliodates the 135's?[/QUOTE]

"Exposed" meaning maybe he is not as indestructible as he has appeared to date.

I admit I don't love the guy after his mockery of Roach. I think a boxer-puncher with good hand and foot speed that punches hard and straight and weighs what he weighs may give him some trouble.

[Pavlik]

Put a level A fighter in the ring with him

Rim shot!

outside of marquez who would that be, at least at 135 lbs?

[marbleheadmaui]

Exposed as what exactly? I don't think there are secrets here. In addition what if he consoliodates the 135's?

"Exposed" meaning maybe he is not as indestructible as he has appeared to date.

I admit I don't love the guy after his mockery of Roach. I think a boxer-puncher with good hand and foot speed that punches hard and straight and weighs what he weighs may give him some trouble.

NOBODY is as indestructible as Rios has been to date.

The guy you're describing sounds a lot like Miguel Acosta to me though.

[Violent Demise]

Put a level A fighter in the ring with him

Not that he's an A level fighter but Mercito Gesta has stated a desire to fight him. I think it's a hollow desire. Cuz I see him getting wrecked if they ever fought

[Mars_ax]

I haven't watched enough tape but you are on the right track. Make him fight at mid- range, make space by bumping back. Turn him in to punches. Time his big uppercut with counter hooks. If you can turn him, plant and throw the two, you might slow him down. If he doesn't respect your power he is going to walk you down. I would focus on getting off first, beating him to the punch, getting off combinations and then get out before he counters. He will probably get frustrated and a little careless. I think he can be walked and turned in to some big, straight shots.

Rios would destroy Molina. I would like to see him against someone like Kendall Holt (on a good day). Eventually he will move up and find some tough fights. I think he gets exposed at light welter.

I don't know about exposed, but if Rios moves up in weight the competition will get stiffer, Khan, Bradley, Soto, Lucas Matt, Maidana, et al, @140 aren't going to be easy. Unless making weight becomes a big problem for him, Rios might consider staying at Lightweight for a few years.

[Spicoli]

Thats just it. I think he moves up right after Antillion. I feel like guys today are on an exceptionally fast track and there wont be anymore so-so touches to hone up skill and game. This is actually one hell of a early 'crossroads' match for he and Antillion, hey I'm not complaining but I don't see him staying at top for a very long time. Dudes style burns his candle at both ends...and fast. The guys a strong bull who catches leather aplenty. He's not a cyborg. As crazy as it sounds I think the thing to beat him is not so much a big puncher but one who can absorb some with high volume of your own.

[ruthless rocco]

there are gonna be alot of punches thrown in this fight and most will probably land...

i think rios is gonna have trouble with that hand he broke in his last fight. its only had a few months to heal...i think its going to limit rios' aggression and antillon may be able to over power him down the stretch.

i think antillon has to really has to make his punches count. i'd like to see him focus considerable effort working the body.

i think this could be a big upset.

[DopeyKev]

I'd like to see Rios vs Guerrero.

[Rantcatrat]

The big names, Soto, Guerrero and Marquez are gone from the lightweight division. Rios isn't the fight Kastidis is looking for after losing to Guerrero. Assuming he beats Antillon, I believe Antonio Demarco is the mandatory. Demarco would be overmatched, but it's not a horrible fight. Miguel Vazquez bleh. Was there talk of the winner of Mitchell and Murray taking on Rios? Bigger names are at 140, but I wouldn't mind seeing him against the Murray/Mitchell winner in a way although he'd be favored. Can someone answer me this question? If Rios is ranked #2, after the champion and lineal champion JMM, since Soto, #3, and Guerrero #4, are leaving the division to go to junior welterweight, if Rios fought #5 Mitchell, would that be for the lineal belt? How does that work?

[:::PSL:::]

He's a come-forward pure slugger. A good counter punch, the one that he could not see would sting him.

[J_Undisputed]

Rios is an easy puzzle to solve for the right fighter. Rios is one dimesional, single gear (forward) fighter. Someone like Lucas Matthyse could beat Rios. All those who said JMM are right and he would have even an easier time beating Rios. Most guys either try to outbrawl Rios or outbox him off the back foot. A versatile fighter that can change gears will confuse Rios. Matthyse isn't the epitomy of a defensive specialist, but he does seem to realize its not always best to stand there and take the first shot for the sake of throwing one. If he upped his work rate, he could do it.
So for someone like JMM, it's as easy as not just counter punching, but using your feints and and angles to set Rios up. Jab, slip, counter, feint, Defend counter and step... Reset. Its how a guy like JMM puts together such nasty combinations and gets away with it. Rios can't adapt to a fighter that's constantly changing gears. If you brawl it means he doesn't have to chase you. If you run it means he can walk you down and fight at his convenience, engaging when he's ready. Change it up and he's lost, he'll get more aggressive and careless.