The 27-year-old, who lost on points to the former pound for pound number one in Macau, is facing possible penalties shortly but explained to me via a phone call on Friday that he would never knowingly put his career in jeopardy.
“I haven’t heard much about it yet. But I didn’t do anything wrong for the Pacquiao fight,” Rios told World Boxing News.
“It could be energy drink I used, but that was nothing unusual. I don’t know until I speak with my team and we get together, but that’s all I believe it could be right now and until I hear more on this, I can’t explain what went wrong.
“Everything I took before the fight was checked and I went through everything with Alex (Ariza) and as you see I made the weight right.
“I did not a cheat as some people are saying and I just want to get back in the ring soon and prove there is more to come from me.”
Drug testers VADA have reportedly found fault in one of the several tests undertaken by Rios surrounding his big-money encounter with the ‘Pacman’ in China, although the Oxnard-native explained that nothing has yet been outlined to him in these early stages.
‘Bam Bam’ also refused to point any blame at new conditioning coach Ariza, but did question whether bringing in such a trainer may have been detrimental to his preparations.
“Nobody has contacted me from VADA yet. I haven’t spoken to anybody so I’ll just have to wait and see how this goes.
“I haven’t been able to talk to Alex as he is out there with Maidana. But when he gets back, me and Robert will sit down and talk about it and see where we go from there.
“I have never had anything like this happen before. Then I bring in a new coach and this happens, so I will have to assess whether it is a good thing for me.
“All I know is I would never cheat or knowingly take anything to help me win. Anyone that sees that way I prepare would know that. I fought hard and if something was wrong, It wasn’t anything I knew about.”
BRANDON RIOS JUSTICE
Rios is hoping to iron out the discrepancies with VADA as soon as possible and wants to concentrate on doing himself more justice in his next fight after what transpired to be a lop-sided defeat to Pacquiao in his welterweight debut.
“I just feel like that the Pacquiao fight was the start for me. I’m ready to go again soon. I have a lot more to come and will have to speak with my team and Cameron Dunkin about what happens next.
“I just want to thank everyone for their support and hope to be out again real soon,” he added.
