By Jhonny Gonzalez

Marco Antonio Barrera (67-7, 44KOs) is ready to fight Brandon Rios (27-0, 20KOs) for the WBA lightweight championship. Fernando Beltran, owner of Zanfer Promotions, who co-promote Barrera with Top Rank, has stated that his boxer will accept the fight once Rios recovers from his right hand injury. Rios badly bruised his right hand last Saturday in Las Vegas when he captured the WBA crown with a tenth-round TKO over Miguel Acosta.

"Barrera will face Rios right when he recovers from his right hand [injury]," Beltran said. "Marco will go for his fourth crown."