Timothy Bradley Vs Brandon Rios: High Stakes Crossroads Fight

By “The Commissioner” Alan J. Kindred

This weekend’s most high profile fight features RSR’s #3 rated Welterweight contender, and WBO Welterweight world titlist, Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley, 32-1-1, 12 KO’s against RSR’s #13 rated contender and former WBA Lightweight world titlist Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios, 33-2-1, 24 KO’s, in a high stakes cross roads bout that could either be a slugfest or a snoozer, depending on the tactics used in the fight.

Bradley has throughout his career employed different tactics to win fights. He is a well-rounded fighter with a ton of heart and toughness to match. He can box on the outside or inside, and even chooses to slug it out on occasion despite his lack of power. His willingness to “go for the KO” against Manny Pacquiao in their rematch, despite a very low knockout percentage, is generally looked upon as a poor game plan for that fight, considering Bradley’s skill set. Against Ruslan Provodnikov he also chose to slug it out and go to war, instead of boxing a safe and careful fight, almost getting himself knocked out in the process. Boxing pundits wondered why didn’t Bradley make it a much easier fight and just box the one dimensional, but dangerous Provodnikov. Bradley had won a controversial decision over Pacquiao and had heard so much negativity from the press and fans that he came into the Provodnikov with a chip on his shoulder. Despite his err in judgement he did produce the fight of the year and gained many new fans for his heroic stand.

The Provodnikov fight is a point of interest here because Bradley is getting ready to fight a fighter of a similar ilk. Rios, like Provodnikov is a come forward banger with power and an iron chin. Some might say Rios, when in top form, is superior to Provodnikov in a technical aspect of inside fighting. In a nutshell, Bradley will be better served to box safe on the outside, use angles, use speed, and turn Rios all night in route to a decision victory. Will he do so, is the question. To further add intangibles to an already intriguing fight is the fact that Bradley has left his long time trainer Joel Diaz in favor of Teddy Atlas. Will this hurt or help Bradley is another question, as this will be the very first time Atlas will corner Bradley, and in such an important fight. Atlas has been known as a disciplinarian in his training nature, and that may be what Bradley needs. Bradley has been known to stray from his game plan, and stern hand of Atlas may be what he needs to keep him on task. However, will they have had enough time to make the necessary changes stick is a key factor. They have had just one training camp together. Atlas hasn’t cornered anyone in years as well. Will Atlas be on point when the pressure is on is a good question as well. He wants Bradley to box and not slug with the slugger Rios.

For Brandon Rios, this is a major shot at redemption. Rios despite showing glimmers of potential greatness, has often fell short in his biggest fights. He has been plagued by inconsistency and he has had a propensity to not train to his full potential. As a Lightweight he used his uncanny physicality and toughness to break down his opponents. His world title winning effort against Miguel Acosta was a prime example of how strength, toughness, and willpower can overcome an opponent who is technically superior skill wise. Acosta was tagging Rios early in the fight and knocking him around a bit, but Rios landed here and there to the body and gradually broke Acosta down, finalizing in a scintillating stoppage victory to become the WBA Lightweight world titlist. After that however, inconsistencies were creeping in at every turn. He wasn’t training properly and missing weight. He lost his world title on the scales and eventually moved up in weight. He had a fight of the year with Mike Alvarado, in a winning effort, only to get out boxed in the rematch. Then he fought Manny Pacquiao and was out boxed again hardly wining a round. This was followed by another lackluster performance against contender Diego Chaves, where Rios escaped with a disqualification win. Then however, as Rios career has been up and down, he had a good performance against Alvarado in their rubber match tie-breaker. Alvarado had nothing to offer, but you could still see, even before the fight that Rios had won in the gym, looking the best he had looked in years. He looked healthy and well trained, where before he often looked drawn and as though he trained just to make weight. Will he show up in this form to fight Bradley is the key question. It seems Rios may have matured some over the years and is now finally taking his training seriously. He will need it, especially if Bradley comes in boxing well and sticks to that game plan.

Assuming Rios comes in at a fine form (that can be a gamble) he will need to get to the inside and force Bradley into a war. He knows he can’t beat Bradley in speed of foot and the boxing game, he needs to lure Bradley into a brawl where his chin and power have a chance to hurt Bradley. Rios has an underrated power jab that he must use to close distance. If he can get to the inside and make Bradley fight his fight he has a real chance. Bradley has been wobbled as of late by fighters with lesser power than Rios (Vargas). He cannot hand on the outside and let Bradley use his speed to safely potshot and outpoint him.

So what does all this mean, and how will the fight play out you might ask considering so many intangibles. A shoe in is that Bradley will come in attempting to box. He will likely be reminded by Teddy Atlas to stick to this plan, and come back to it if he strays from it. I think the most important intangible and the most dynamic variable it what form Rios shows up in. It could be the difference between Bradley winning an easy white wash decision, or a competitive fight with lots of drama. I do feel even if Rios shows up at his best Bradley should have enough to win, unless he gets really careless, and that is possible. Bradley is the favorite and rightly so, he is more well-rounded than Rios, and has more ways to win, some more easy than others. The only thing Rios supporters have to hang their hat on really is that Bradley was rocked by Jesse Vargas who is not much of a puncher. If Rios can land a few deadly combinations on Bradley we could get an upset of magnificent proportions. That said, my official pick is Tim Bradley to win by unanimous decision, with Rios having his moments.

Also on Saturday’s HBO undercard Vasyl Lomachenko, 4-1, 2 KO’s, defends his WBO Featherweight world title against Romulo Koasicha, 25-4, 15 KO’s.

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