Former lightweight champion Brandon Rios is quickly becoming a rising star in the world of boxing. Sporting a undefeated record, Rios came into his last bout with John Murray as the champion. He would come out the winner but lost his title on the scale, missing weight. The event was chronicled in HBO’s portrait of a fighter, as they followed Rios for the week leading up to his bout. It was revealed he had starved himself for the bout, not eating for a whole week until the weight in.
With a new nutritionist on hand, Rios is looking to reclaim the title he lost on the scales against interim champion Richard Abril on April 14th. Abril provoked Rios at a press conference in Miami and his wish was granted as he now gets the chance of a lifetime. We spoke to Rios about his thoughts on this upcoming match up and a potential fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.
FHTV: Tell us about your training camp thus far Brandon?
BR: Training camp has been going well. This is the first time I have felt this good in camp. Richard Abril – I don’t know too much about him and I haven’t seen much video. It’s kind of hard. I know Robert Garcia has seen film on him but I haven’t. I am just going to be ready for a tough fight. He is a top contender and in the position to fight me so I am ready for him and I hope he is ready for me.
FHTV: So for those people that do not know, how did the fight come about with Richard Abril?
BR: I went there because the press conference was supposed to be with Gamboa. All the sudden this guy came in. I guess he was a friend of Gamboa and he didn’t show up so I was already heated up and everything. Abril started talking smack so I assumed it was his friend. He came up to me and said, “I want to fight you.” I said, “Who are you? You look like an average guy on the street with a tuxedo on.” He kept running his mouth saying, “I am the champion and you are nothing.” I said, “You are the champion and you want to fight me? There is my manager right there, Cameron Dunkin.” Then he told me to talk to him in Spanish because he didn’t know what I was saying. I said, “If you don’t know what I’m saying then get the F_ _ _ out of here.” Then we got face to face and he pushed me. I will never forget that he pushed me.
FHTV: So how has the change of opponents been for you?
BR: It’s not too hard. I am a fighter, I’m a warrior. It’s my job and I love my job. I love to fight. Whoever they put in front of me in the ring – I don’t care who it is – I’ll be ready. That is what I train for. If anything changes, I am ready. It doesn’t matter to me. If it is Gamboa, Abril, or Mike Tyson, it doesn’t matter. I’ll fight them. I have had a tremendous training camp and I can say nothing bad about it.
FHTV: Do you still want a bout with Gamboa? Do you feel you have unfinished business?
BR: It is not unfinished business because we never fought. He called my name out. I showed up in Miami. I have nothing to prove. He didn’t show up. I have nothing to prove to this guy. I didn’t mention his name once. He said he wanted to fight me, Manny Pacquiao, this guy, that guy, and when it came down to it, he was nowhere to be found. If I called him out he would say “yes,” then no show up to anything. He is a coward.
FHTV: How is the new nutritionist working out for you?
BR: Cecilio Flores is helping out and the weight is coming off well. Cecilio is helping out a lot. I feel good and strong. I am ready to rock and roll on April 14 to show the world I haven’t gone anywhere and I think I train better when I am at home. I am with my family and my wife and friends. When I went to México, don’t get me wrong – it was great experience training beside Margarito and the altitude. Honestly, I feel better when I am at home in my own gym. It’s nice weather here – it’s not too cold, I get a good sweat in. Robert is mainly focusing on me right now..
FHTV: It must of crushed you losing your title on the scales?
BR: It was horrible because nobody beat me. I lost it myself. I was down for a while because I lost my title. I had to get over it and my wife helped me a lot. She talked to me and told me not to mess up my career. So I thank Cameron Dunkin, Top Rank and the WBA for letting me fight for my title again. I want to get my title back again to show the world what happened in New York was a fluke.
FHTV: What keeps driving you to fight Brandon?
BR: What drives me is I love my sport and I love what I do. A lot of fighters do it for a job – I do it because I love it. It’s my high. It’s like my Ritalin. I am very hyper and it calms me down a lot. If I didn’t do this I don’t know where I would be right now. I think I’d be locked up and maybe I will go up to heavyweight now so we can have an American champion.
FHTV: Who were some of your boxing idols growing up?
BR: I always looked up to Julio César Chavez Sr. and Diego Corrales. I looked up to them because I had the same style as them. I take a little off them and try to do it my way.
FHTV: It is rumored you may be fighting Juan Manuel Marquez next, what is your opinion of him?
BR: There are very few fighters that can do what Márquez does. He is one of the best out there. He’s a great counter-puncher and a great technician. He’s still got it and that’s why he is still fighting. He is nice, polite and very likable and gives the fans what they want. He’s a young 38 and he will be ready and it’s going to be great. I’m happy he’s on the same card. It’s going to be a great card because there are exciting fights on there.
FHTV: In what area has cecilio helped you out most?
BR: He is cooking great, I am eating great and I feel strong and training hard as usual. Now I have the power and the force to train even harder. Before I was eating chicken, fish and rice but now, two weeks out, now we are cutting back and he is doing a great job. This is the smartest move I have made in my career and it’s paying off very well right now.
FHTV: So what are your future plans after the Abril fight?
BR: We won’t talk about it right now. Our concern is Abril. The guy is an unknown and they are the most dangerous guys because they want to prove a point. So we have to be ready and be calm. So that’s what we are focused on.
FHTV: Any last words Brandon?
BR: I want to thank Top Rank and the best manager out there for being on my side through the rough times. I want to also thank the fans and my wife for giving me another beautiful child.
