By Eric Thomas: Brandon Rios (29-0-1, 22 KO’s) will be getting a chance to recapture his lost WBA World lightweight title on April 14th against #1 WBA contender Richard Abril (17-2-1, 8 KO’s) in a fight televised by HBO in a pay-per-view bout for the vacant WBA light welterweight title at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Rios is facing a runner in Abril and it’s going to be difficult for him to adjust to that, because pretty much all of Rios’ past opponents have been come forward types that played into his strengths. Abril is the opposite of the guys that Rios has been feasting on his entire eight year pro career. Abril, 29, likes to hit and immediate retreat. He’s kind of like a blend of Amir Khan and Wladimir Klitschko in terms of defensive fighting style.

I’m not talking offense, because he’s nothing like either of them. But he likes to hit and retreat and move around the ring so he doesn’t get hit. It’s frustrating if you’re the one fighting him or if you’re a fight fan looking for an exciting fight. Abril isn’t one of those types of guys. He’s a survival guy, a defensive specialist and he’s likely to give Rios fits in this one unless Rios is quick at cutting off the ring to force Abril to fight him.

The way to beat Abril is to jab him constantly like Breidis Prescott did in beat hi by a 10 round decision in 2008. Abril doesn’t have much of a jab and can be beaten that way. If you attack him, he’ll retreat all around the ring and give you problems. Rios doesn’t have quick feet, so it’s going to be difficult for him to catch up to Abril unless Abril wants him to catch up. This isn’t a fight that I would have ever voluntarily made for Rios if I was his promoter.