By Rick Reeno

Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas - Brandon Rios (32-2-1, 23KOs) returned for the first time since last year's decision loss to Manny Pacquiao, and gutted out a nine round disqualification over Diego Chaves (23-2, 19KOs). The fight was a foul-filled affair.

It was bombs away in the first round. Both fighters came out with bad intentions, throwing caution to the wind and winging hard shots at close range. In the third, Chaves lost a point for excessively hold Rios. Chaves' corner complained the Rios was coming in with his head and Chaves was holding him to avoid head clashes.

Chaves was landing harder and better during the fourth, often catching Rios with shots to the head. Rios was never seriously hurt by any of the shots and continued to come forward, but he was also warned several times for coming in head-first.

During the fifth, Rios lost a point for throwing Chaves to the ground when they tied up following an exchange of punches. The fight was pretty dirty by both sides and Rios nearly lost another point in the sixth, with Chaves landing often with a 1-2 combination to the head in the final minute.

During the eight, Chaves lost another point for attempting to continue fighting when the referee was breaking them up. The two of them came crashing hard to the mat in the ninth. Also during the action in the ninth, Chaves threw an elbow on the break and he was disqualified by referee Vic Drakulich.

Following the DQ, Rios attempted to go after Chaves and their camps rushed the ring as everyone restored order before the situation got out of hand.