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Home » Exclusive: Brandon Rios staying at 147, awaits new comeback date

Exclusive: Brandon Rios staying at 147, awaits new comeback date

‘Bam Bam’ saw a potential clash in Mexico fall through at the last minute but remains in the gym and ready to go as soon as an alternative contest can be arranged.

Rios last campaigned when losing out to two-weight ruler Timothy Bradley back in November 2015 and had been expected to hang up his gloves until a change of heart last year.

“I’m good. Just waiting for a fight and hopefully it will happen soon,” Rios exclusively told World Boxing News.

“I’m hoping to stay busy. At that time (when I retired) that’s where my mind was at, but after going home and thinking about it I wanted to give it one more shot.

“I plan to maintain at 147 pounds and will fight whoever my team thinks would be a good opponent.”

Asked about the changing landscape in boxing since Floyd Mayweather retired and the possibility of the former pound for pound king fighting Conor McGregor from UFC, Rios replied: Things have changed a lot since then and it appears to me boxing is not the same as it was.

“I haven’t really thought about Mayweather fighting McGregor. I know they are going to be boxing, plus for me, UFC is not something I see myself doing as I love the sport of boxing too much.”

At 31 and with three losses from his last five bouts, Rios is at something of a make-or-break point in his career and needs to put together at least back-to-back wins in order to haul himself into the title picture.

World title status has eluded the ex-champion for the last five years since moving up from 135 pounds, but there’s no doubting the talent the Californian possesses and having Rios back trading blows is only going to be good for the sport in the short term.

Exciting clashes can be made with the likes of Ruslan Provodnikov, Adrien Broner and Lucas Matthysse – to name a few – as Rios gives it one last go ahead of an official announcement on his next outing.

Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay