Tim Bradley vs. Brandon Rios – Catch the Throne

Photo credit: Chris Farina – TOP RANK Official photographer (since 1988)

A big sign that reads “vacancy” has just been placed on the empty chair awaiting the new ruler of the welterweight kingdom. With the undefeated king known as “Money Mayweather” retired and the only other suitable replacement in “Pacman Pacquiao” looking at one more go before hanging them up for good in early 2016, this is the time for one of the active 147ers to march forth and seize the keys to the kingdom. Stepping up to the plate lobbying to secure some of the riches and fame of the 147lbs division are Top Rank superstars; champion Tim Bradley Jr. and brawler extraordinaire Brandon Rios. They collide this weekend at the Thomas and Mack Center in the fight capitol of the world as the headliner to HBO’s latest boxing installment when Bradley defends his recently reacquired WBO crown.

Not foreign to the title of champion, Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley Jr. (32-1-1 w/18 KOs) once reigned as the WBO title holder when he shocked the world taking a split decision over 6-1 favorite Manny Pacquiao. He took Pacquiao’s WBO belt as well as bragging rights for 2012’s boxing upset of the year. Bradley topped that performance as only he could, with a Rocky Balboa-flavored showdown the following year opting to slug it out with Ruslan Provodnikov at the Home Depot Center in what many picked as 2013’s “Fight of the Year”. The back and forth, bloody, drama show proved that Bradley was all heart and willing to walk through hell in order to ascend as a god amongst men. He got the unanimous nod from the judges along with his harshest critics’ respect, then decided to top that outing that October with a split decision over 3-1 favorite, Juan Manuel Marquez at the Thomas and Mack Center. A man of his word, Bradley then granted Pacquiao a rematch the next year but would suffer his first professional defeat via decision, and then in December returned to Las Vegas challenging Diego Gabriel Chaves only to earn his first career draw. Sadly, a fight most ring side observers and analysts felt Bradley had clearly won.

Things seemed shaky for Tim Bradley following the (1-1-1) record in those 3 fights but like all men who dare to be great, he went into hostile waters searching for another chance at a title. He returned to the Home Depot Center locking horns with then undefeated Jessie Vargas for WBO 147lbs gold this past June. An easy 36 minutes later, all for except maybe the last 20 seconds when Vargas connected with a clean and powerful shot, Bradley reassumed his championship ways earning the belt vacated by division kingpin, Floyd Mayweather. Now, poised and ready to continue his climb up the ladder, “Desert Storm” meets certified slugger, Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (33-2 w/24 KOs), in his first title defense. Rather than match up with a soft opponent, in typical Bradley fashion he looked for the biggest risk and lowest reward bout. Casual to hardcore fans know that Rios has already shocked an athletic dynamo like Bradley before when he upset Anthony Peterson in 2010. The Texas-born warrior only certified himself a star capturing his first championship with an impressive 10th round TKO over Miguel Acosta the following year.

Picking up the WBA World Lightweight title was just the start to his recognition as he defended it that summer with a 3rd round TKO over Urbano Antillon. He ended the year with an 11th round stoppage of John Murray in December. Sadly, that fight plus the one that followed which he also won, this time via split decision over Richar Abril, Rios would lose the opportunity to fight for his WBA championship seeing as how he missed weight at the scales. Rios remained unbeaten, yes, but was making headlines just as much for his victories as he was for coming in overweight hence it was time to leave 135lbs and jump up to junior welterweight in 2012.

Luckily for fans, the move north prompted the trajectory to face Mike Alvarado in October at the Home Depot Center who he beat in a “Fight of the Year” war that ended in a 7th round TKO as well as ended Alvarado’s unbeaten streak. The rematch came in 2013 in Las Vegas and this time Rios lost via unanimous decision, almost poetically the same person who handed “Bam Bam” his first loss was just returning the favor. Rather than finish the trilogy, Rios opted to go after the biggest challenge available as he traveled to China to headline his first HBO PPV opposite boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao. After taking a lopsided unanimous decision loss, Rios took on Diego Gabriel Chaves in 2014 in an ugly, sloppy and dirty tussle that resembled more of a street fight than a boxing event. Sure enough it ended in a Chaves disqualification but people raised an eyebrow at the beneficial verdict since Rios seemed on his way to losing the match on the score cards. Rios finished his trilogy in Alvarado’s backyard of Colorado January of this year winning the rivalry via 3rd round TKO, a refreshing win for Rios’ fans since he looked to be in the best shape ever, ready to abandon the demons that recently plagued his tumultuous career.

Heading into his second Thomas and Mack headliner Tim Bradley is a not-so-surprising 6-1 favorite. What is surprising is that allot of bettors are betting Rios +450 to win, even if they are not picking him to win. And of course this is boxing; an upset is not completely out of the question if the Mexican-American drags Tim into a Bradley vs. Provodnikov-type of war. A good ol’ fashioned brawl where the percentage of power punches landed teeter-totters’ skill, overwhelming Bradley’s technique. Most upset-minded observers even pin point the game-changing shot from Rios to land in the third quarter of their 12 round fight, just like in the cases when Provodnikov & Jessie Vargas caught Bradley late in each of their battles.

Those scenarios are just two possibilities where Rios comes out as the victor with them being compounded further upon his desire to snatch the WBO strap from his opponent. Increasing the stakes higher warning Tim Bradley Jr to remain extremely composed and focused on a game plan to stick and move his way out of danger for 36 minutes. More specifically: avoid unnecessary exchanges, box, and circle out of precarious positions. It’s no question that Rios is a skilled sniper, but like any sharpshooter, he prefers his target to move as little as possible. That will not be the case against someone who has the conditioning of a “Desert Storm” Bradley. A tremendously talented boxer equipped with the awareness to not get caught up in a vicious cat and mouse game. Sure, he has done it in the past but Bradley knows that with the likely retirements of both Mayweather and Pacquiao, this is absolutely no time to play games with not just his title on the line but possibly the keys to the welterweight kingdom at stake also. A new era in the 147-pound weight class is on the horizon and the first marquee outing involving the WBO crown just so happens to be decided this weekend on HBO from the Thomas & Mack Center. Tim Bradley and Brandon Rios may have already reached immortality all thanks to their previous wars, bloody battles and vibrantly violent victories. They are established fan favorites in their cities or states as well as boxing websites and countless forums. Even with all of those accolades, some would say that they’ll never be royals…on Saturday nothing could be further from the truth.