Rios Admits Chaves Fight is 'Do or Die' For Career

By Luis Sandoval

Brandon Rios will look to get himself back on track as he takes on hard hitting Argentinean Diego Chaves August 2nd at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, NV after having a disappointing 2013 that saw him lose to both Mike Alvarado and Manny Pacquiao. Rios understands the importance of this upcoming fight and knows his back is against the wall.

“I’m going into this fight like it’s my last fight. I did lose two in a row. I have no shame in it. I lost to Alvarado which was a great fight, both fights that we did. And I lost to Pacquiao which everyone has been losing to Pacquiao. He’s actually been knocking out some of the greats so I have no shame in that. But this fight is a do or die for me. That’s why I’m doing it right and eating right and doing everything right like I’m supposed to. This is a do or die for me and I want to make it a do for me, not a die. So I’m training my butt off and I’ll be ready,” Rios would tell BoxingScene.

In hindsight, Rios admits he got complacent and feels that was a big reason for his losses last year.

“I did get caught up with all the mess. I did get too comfortable and I forgot; I forgot what made me and drove me to this position. I forgot and I just got too comfortable. Now I lost my two fights, now I’m taking a step back and I actually beat myself up [over it]. It was just killing me but I’m glad I took 8 months off because if I didn’t I probably would’ve lost again because my mind wasn’t in boxing anymore. But now I thought about it and I think I just got too comfortable where I was at,” said a candid Rios.

Rios no longer feels comfortable and instead feels the hunger and desire to get back to the top and prove that he’s still one of the best fighters in his division. He feels rejuvenated and vows that he’s going to be the Brandon Rios of old who loves to fight but does it in an intelligent way.

“Me and Robert have been doing what I did when I got here. I got so used to blocking all my shots, I forgot moving your head and I was walking in and not giving angles like I used to. It’s like I said, I got too comfortable. I thought I was unstoppable. And it’s good to think like that but not in a way where it’s going to hurt you and you’re just walking into punches thinking ‘oh, you go the best chin’ but at the end of the day you’re still getting caught and they’re still landing punches on you,” said Rios.

Rios seems at peace with himself and is looking forward instead of back. Chaves is a tough assignment but Rios understands a victory will put him back in the mix and where he was a year ago.

“The fans are going to see that Brandon Rios is back again and he’s going to be ready. He’s not the one that thought nobody could hurt him and that I can take any punch and not feel nothing. Like I said, I’m back and I’ll be ready”.

You can follow Luis Sandoval on Twitter & Instagram @Truewest007.