Former WBA lightweight world champion, Brandon 'Bam Bam' Rios putting in work with his father and new trainer Ricky Funez at Ten Goose Boxing gym Saturday morning as he prepares himself for a fight yet to be determined. Rios looks to climb back on top after claiming he was going to retire from boxing. Photography Mikey Williams/Team Rios.
After separating with long time trainer, Robert Garcia since joining Funez, Rios says, " I am more focused and prepared more than ever and my body feels great."
It's only a matter of time before we see the Warrior within Brandon Rios of old make his way back in the ring.
BoxingScene.com's Steve Kim first reported earlier this year that Brandon Rios and Robert Garcia parted ways. In the immediate wake of his ninth round stoppage at the hands of WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley on November 7th at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Rios announced his retirement from boxing. It was Rios third loss in his last five fights and his first career defeat by knockout.
It didn't take long before Rios (33-3-2, 24KOs), 29-years-old, quickly changed his mind and he's already begun training for his next fight. And he's doing so without his long-time trainer Garcia.
"Brandon is not working out in my gym. I had a really good talk with Brandon a few weeks ago and we're brothers, he calls me, he still texts me every day and checks how I'm doing and I do the same with him. But he told me he still wants to fight a few more fights and the next few fights he wants to do it training with his father," confirmed Garcia to BoxingScene.com earlier this year.
The veteran trainer says he still on very amicable terms with Rios, who was able to win a lightweight title and earn millions under the stewardship of Garcia.
"I told (Brandon),'Look, if it's your dad, go ahead and do it. I'm happy for you and your dad, he'll make a few dollars for a few fights that you'll have,' So that I have no problem with, I gave him my blessing. We still keep in touch almost everyday,"said Garcia.
