By Chris Williams: Somewhere out there I imagine Bob Arum of Top Rank is not a happy camper tonight after Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KO’s) was defeated by the arguably less popular Mike Alvarado (34-1, 23 KO’s) by a 12 round unanimous decision tonight in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Rios, 26, was one of Pacquiao’s big options for his next fight in September, but now Alvarado had taken the fight off the table by beating Rios. Arum now only has Tim Bradley or Juan Manuel Marquez for Pacquiao.
Arum isn’t going to get Marquez to face Pacquiao unless he gives a really big money offer. Marquez obviously knows Pacquiao only has Tim Bradley and himself to fight, and he can now ask for a 50-50 deal to fight the Filipino instead of the mere 76-24 deal they had last time they fought in December.