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Brandon "Bam-Bam" Rios (29-0-1, 22 KOs) announced today that his proposed showdown with undefeated Cuban featherweight king Yuriorkis Gamboa (21-0-0, 16 KOs) is set and official for April 14.
Rios wrote on his official social network pages:
"Boxing fans I would like to officially announce my next fight! April 14, 2012, Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa at 135lb. Team Rios thanks for always showing me love and support. I love this sport and all the support is what drives me to train harder! Here we go Team Rios! Countdown to April 14th has begun,"
After his well-documented struggles in making the 135 weight limit that led to him getting stripped of his WBA lightweight belt last December, Rios assured his fans that he will be fine for this potential blockbuster showdown.
This is a gutsy move for Gamboa, who will be testing the waters north of 126 for the first time. Not only is Gamboa giving away the size advantage, Rios is one of the toughest fighters in boxing pound-for-pound. He is used to absorbing punishment from bigger guys and walking through them while dishing out beatings of his own.
There are those that do believe that Gamboa's speed, quickness, and skill, will pose problems for Rios as well. "Honestly for me, Gamboa is more dangerous than Rios," undefeated Filipino lightweight rising star Mercito Gesta, who has been calling out Rios for a while, told me a week ago. "I think that's a good fight, but Rios will have a hard time with Gamboa. I know Gamboa is smaller, but I think he can hang, because he's fast, he got that speed, so I think it'll be a good one," he continued.
As far as Gesta's call-outs, Rios told me that he doesn't really think much of Gesta, and that the fight will do nothing for his career. He also emphasized how hard he's worked and that he has fought a lot of tough opponents to get to where he's at, and is looking for big fights and big money at this stage of his career.
Rios, however, encouraged Gesta to work his way up and do the same, and insists that he is willing to fight anybody his manager sets up for him.
The Rios-Gamboa showdown will be for Rios' old WBA lightweight belt.
- dSG -
In case you missed it: Check out this week's episode of "dBoxing Source Radio Show" (Tuesday 2/14) with special guests, 3-time World Champion Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton together with her promoter Alan Tremblay, Manny Pacquiao's favorite sparring partner David Rodela, and Knuckleheadz Gym fighter Indian Tizoc Banuelos.
Click here for last week's episode featuring Roy Jones, Jr., Seth Mitchell and Mercito Gesta or go to dSourceBoxing.com to tune-in to the show live!
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