By Chris Williams: Top Rank is reportedly interested in matching former WBO lightweight champion Brandon Rios (31-2, 23 KO’s) up against former WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco (30-3-1, 23 KO’s) in a catch-weight at 143lbs, according to Dan Rafael. He says that the fight won’t be at 140, the weight class that both Rios and DeMarco both fight at. Rafael says there’s too much risk involved as far as Rios making the 140lb weight limit for the fight, so it would have to take place at 143.
“I checked with Top Rank as it related to a possible DeMarco-Rios fight,” Rafael said in his chat at ESPN. “IF it happens, and it’s being discussed, it would not be at 140. It would be around 143, as per TR.”
This definitely not the fight that Rios had been interested in. Rios wanted to fight WBO light welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov for his WBO 140lb title, but it looks like Top Rank isn’t interested in making that fight for some reason. It could be that there might not be a whole lot of interest in the fight due to Rios having lost back to back fights against Mike Alvarado and Manny Pacquiao. Given Rios’ consecutive defeats, it would seem kind of strange for him to be fighting for a world title shot. I’m pretty sure the World Boxing Organization would sanction a fight between Rios and Provodnikov, but it would make them look kind of bad for doing it.
I’m not sure a fight at 143 would work for Rios, because he struggled to make weight for his fight against Pacquiao last November. He also had a hard time in making weight for his second fight against Alvarado and for his controversial win over Richard Abril in 2012.
It might be better if Rios just moves up to 147 altogether in a sink or swim mode. Top Rank can still match him against DeMarco, although I’m not too sure what a fight like that would accomplish. Rios needs to be fighting guys that are going somewhere, and DeMarco looks like someone who is out of place in the 140lb division.
I can see Rios soon eating himself beyond even the welterweight division, and finding himself first at 154 and eventually 160. By that point he’ll be heading for journeyman status, because he’s not talented enough to be a factor past the lightweight division in my view. When Rios could no longer make 135, it kind of put his career in death spiral. We’re seeing that now with his back to back defeats at the hands of Pacquiao and Alvarado. It’s going to get worse for Rios, believe me.
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