By Rick Reeno
Promoter Ahmet Oner, of Arena Box Promotions, is not concerned with Brandon Rios (29-0, 22KOs) moving up to junior welterweight.
On December 3rd, Rios failed to make the lightweight limit for a scheduled title defense against John Murray on the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito undercard in New York. After Rios knocked Murray out, the boxer announced hisimmediate move to the junior welterweight division.
In his next fight, Gamboa plans to leave the featherweight division and move up by two classes to lightweight - jumping from 126 to 135.
Prior to Rios' decision to move up, Top Rank was planning to match him with Gamboa. Oner, who co-promotes Gamboa (21-0, 16KOs) with Top Rank, is still willing to make the fight and he doesn't care where it takes place.
Oner is confident in Gamboa's ability to beat Rios.
"We have a deal with HBO for two fights. We'll fight one guy and then we'll fight Brandon Rios. I think that's something [the weight limit] that he has to speak with his management and promoter about because we were told it's a lightweight fight. But, we don't care we'll fight him in any division. Gamboa doesn't care for Brandon Rios. Gamboa doesn't care for his weight. Gamboa is just better than him," Oner told BoxingScene.com.
