By Luis Sandoval
WBA interim-lightweight champion Richard Abril (17-2-1, 8KOs) is glowing with confidence Later tonight at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, he faces former champion Brandon Rios (29-0-1, 22KOs) for the vacant WBA lightweight crown. On Friday, Rios struggled to make weight for the second consecutive time.
Rios came in at 137-pounds on his first attempt, and then came in at 139 a while later. He looked pale and drained - but Abril's confidence level is shooting up even higher. The Cuban boxer, who weighed in at 135, believes that he has Rios right where he wants him.
"I feel very good. And right now, for the people who talk sh*t, I like busting their mouths. And best believe I will bust Rios' in his mouth......guaranteed. [When he pushed me in Los Angeles], he stepped back because I would've hit him with a left hook to his jaw and broke his teeth," Abril told BoxingScene.com.
"I see a desperate Brandon Rios. Desparate and that's how and why I'm going to knock him out. The fight here opens up all the doors. You can see if I possibly beat Rios, I can fight [Juan Manule] Marquez next. That would be a honor for me, to fight a legend like him. Brandon has a lot to lose. I see a desperate Brandon. A Brandon who looks spooked."
