Rios-Antillon: Preview to a fight that guarantees excitement

By Boxing News - 07/09/2011 - Comments

By Peter Wells: Last weekend we saw one of many fights that gets more hype than it is due. It had far less fireworks than we were promised and it left those who’ll only tune in when the hype outside the ring is enough to get inside their wallets thinking that this is the best that boxing has to offer.

It’s a real shame that fights like this battle tonight between two warriors Brandon Rios and Urbano Antillon are only to be watched by fans of the sport. In the UK despite being aired on Premier Sports you wouldn’t have been able to tell. There is no mention of it anywhere and this fight guarantees more excitement in one round than there was in the full 12 between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko.

But despite the lack of promotion surrounding this fight and many others it doesn’t stop the fighters giving their loyal fans – that turn up at the arena or tune in on TV – a fantastic night of entertainment. Brandon Rios is unbeaten and holds the World Boxing Association (WBA) Lightweight title after fighting his way back to stop Miguel Acosta.

Rios hasn’t done himself many favours though at getting himself fans, he’s exciting to watch but many who do watch are really hoping he loses. This is because a video was posted online of him and Antonio Margarito senselessly mocking Freddie Roach’s parkinson disease. They did appolagise but Roach is one of the most respected trainers ever and what they did was below the belt.

His opponent is a rugged fighter who has been in quite a few good scraps. His last outing was a classic fight where he and Humberto Soto slugged it out but it was Soto who came out victorious via a close decision and had it not been for Antillon having a point deducted the verdict would have been a draw. His only other defeat was a 9th round stoppage to Brandon’s last victim Miguel Acosta. He was drawing at the time of the stoppage.

Rios is coming in as favourite and a stoppage would be the likely result as both fighters have 20 knockouts from 27(Rios) and 28(Antillon) victories. I’m going to go against the odds though as i feel Rios will find it harder to break down Urbano that is was with Acosta and he won’t be running around and landing low blows like Anthony Peterson. Antillon can do enough to discourage the younger fighter and win a close decision.

On the undercard the returning Kermit Cintron should have too much for Carlos Molina and should stop him about half way through the fight.



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