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Brandon Rios will fight either Jessie Vargas or Provodnikov this fall, no Kell Brook.
Brandon Rios is going to fight on HBO in the fall, but it won’t be against Kell Brook.
That potential matchup was deep in negotiations but fell apart for a planned Sept. 12 date. And Rios moves on.
The all-action welterweight now has two choices for his next opponent, manager Cameron Dunkin told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday: Ruslan Provodnikov and Jessie Vargas. Dunkin expects to have a resolution next week.
“It’s an absolute war and I think it’s back and forth and it’s a great, great fan fight,” Dunkin said of a Rios-Vargas matchup. “It’s a back-and-forth war. I can’t really pick a winner, it’s just going to be a shootout.”
Dunkin, though, manages both fighters, a less-than-ideal situation for the sage advisor.
“It’s not what I want, so hopefully we won’t have to cross that bridge,” he said. “There’s other things we can do.”
Vargas, 26, dropped a wide decision to Tim Bradley last month, but the finish was filled with controversy. Vargas stunned Bradley and had him reeling when referee Pat Russell stopped the fight with seven seconds remaining in the bout. The errant call led to mass confusion, and Vargas is appealing the decision with the California State Athletic Commission.
The other option for Rios, whose last loss came to Manny Pacquiao, is Provodnikov. It’s one of the best matchups that can be made in boxing, a can’t-miss fight that would surely garner Fight of the Year consideration.
“It’s even more of war, it’s brutal, it’s one of those fights that everybody says to me that both guys are going to the hospital, it’s that kind of a fight and fans would love it,” Dunkin said. “It would be absolutely brutal on both guys and neither guy will take a backward step. Gosh, even to think about it. Just one after the other, just blasting each other.”
The Provodnikov fight would surely be a bigger payday for Rios and is the kind of fight that can anchor HBO’s fall lineup. It’s a matchup fans are drooling for, two of the sport’s best action fighters meeting for the first time.
Provodnikov, 31, is coming off a loss to Lucas Matthysse in a bout that is currently the leader in the clubhouse for Fight of the Year honors. If the “Siberian Rocky” fights Rios, there will likely be serious competition for the award.
Rios, 29, has reeled off two wins since the defeat to Pacquiao. He prevailed via disqualification vs. Diego Chaves in August and then wiped out rival Mike Alvarado in January in the final chapter of their trilogy.
No matter whom he fights, it’s a good thing for boxing when “Bam Bam” is in the ring.
That potential matchup was deep in negotiations but fell apart for a planned Sept. 12 date. And Rios moves on.
The all-action welterweight now has two choices for his next opponent, manager Cameron Dunkin told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday: Ruslan Provodnikov and Jessie Vargas. Dunkin expects to have a resolution next week.
“It’s an absolute war and I think it’s back and forth and it’s a great, great fan fight,” Dunkin said of a Rios-Vargas matchup. “It’s a back-and-forth war. I can’t really pick a winner, it’s just going to be a shootout.”
Dunkin, though, manages both fighters, a less-than-ideal situation for the sage advisor.
“It’s not what I want, so hopefully we won’t have to cross that bridge,” he said. “There’s other things we can do.”
Vargas, 26, dropped a wide decision to Tim Bradley last month, but the finish was filled with controversy. Vargas stunned Bradley and had him reeling when referee Pat Russell stopped the fight with seven seconds remaining in the bout. The errant call led to mass confusion, and Vargas is appealing the decision with the California State Athletic Commission.
The other option for Rios, whose last loss came to Manny Pacquiao, is Provodnikov. It’s one of the best matchups that can be made in boxing, a can’t-miss fight that would surely garner Fight of the Year consideration.
“It’s even more of war, it’s brutal, it’s one of those fights that everybody says to me that both guys are going to the hospital, it’s that kind of a fight and fans would love it,” Dunkin said. “It would be absolutely brutal on both guys and neither guy will take a backward step. Gosh, even to think about it. Just one after the other, just blasting each other.”
The Provodnikov fight would surely be a bigger payday for Rios and is the kind of fight that can anchor HBO’s fall lineup. It’s a matchup fans are drooling for, two of the sport’s best action fighters meeting for the first time.
Provodnikov, 31, is coming off a loss to Lucas Matthysse in a bout that is currently the leader in the clubhouse for Fight of the Year honors. If the “Siberian Rocky” fights Rios, there will likely be serious competition for the award.
Rios, 29, has reeled off two wins since the defeat to Pacquiao. He prevailed via disqualification vs. Diego Chaves in August and then wiped out rival Mike Alvarado in January in the final chapter of their trilogy.
No matter whom he fights, it’s a good thing for boxing when “Bam Bam” is in the ring.
My preference would be a fight with Provodnikov. I like both guys but I favour Ruslan. I see Brandon starting well throwing those vicious uppercuts on the inside but I think Ruslan would take them and unleash his own hooks and hurt Rios who would then try to box like Lucas did but Provodnikov would catch up and finish the fight. Triangle theories don't work but Ruslan ruined Alvarado with that beating and Alvarado had success vs Rios.
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