Brandon Rios vs Urbano Antillon - Complete Fight (In 2 Parts)

Part 1

Part 2

Videos Courtesy of nahblud on Vimeo.

Recap: Brandon Rios vs. Urbano Antillon - SHOWTIME Boxing

Brandon Rios KO's Urbano Antillon, Paul Wlliams Loses to Erislandy Lara but gets the "Win"

Chris Farina/Top Rank

By Randy De La O

Kudos to Showtime. Saturday night's fight at the Home Depot Center between WBA Lightweight Champion Brandon Rios and Challenger Urbano Antillon represented everything that is good about boxing; good matchmaking, a real rivalry, two likable opponents, great action -while it lasted - and a definitive, no-nonsense and indisputable win, a spectacular third round knockout of Antillon by Rios. It just doesn't get any better than this. Both fighters had an old school persona about them. Neither guy is afraid to mix it up, both can punch and both can take it. Last night though, Rios just took it better.

Going into the third round, it was still a close fight and living up to everyone's expectations, until Rios landed a right hand that put Antillon on the canvas. He did it again a little later in the round. Antillon got up and was about to resume fighting, until he started to stagger across the ring, prompting referee David Mendoza to halt the fight at 2:49 of the third round.

It's hard not to like a guy like Rios. He never stops fighting but he does get hit a lot. I hope he tightens up his defense, even a little bit. Guys like Rios never come out of the fight game undamaged over the long haul. I don't really expect Rios to fight any other way. It's not in his nature to fight any other way. Rios is my kind of fighter.

Congrats to Carlos Molina on his upset of Kermit Cintron last night. It was his will to win and his big heart that won the fight for him.

Photo: Emily Harney

If the Rios vs Antillon fight showed the best side of boxing, than the Paul Williams vs Erislandy Lara fight, at the Boardwalk Hall in New Jersey, showed the worst side. Not so much the fight itself, which, while not spectacular and certainly anti-climatic after watching the Rios vs Antillon fight, was at least a good performance by Lara, who dominated Williams for most of the fight. What was bad, and bad for boxing was the judging. In a fight that was clearly and indisputably won by Lara, the judges awarded the fight to Williams. The judges should be called to the carpet for this fight and than tarred and feathered. Judge Al Bennett had the fight even at 114-114, Judge: Hilton Whitaker III had it115-114 in favor of Williams and Judge: Donald Givens had it116-114 for Williams. .

Williams had absolutely no answer for Lara's left hand. Lara, a southpaw, almost couldn't miss. Kudos to the HBO broadcasting team of Max Kellerman, Bob Papa and Roy Jones Jr. for making it clear that Lara was the real winner of the fight. I don't expect Williams to give Lara a rematch but overall I don't think the "loss" will hurt Lara's career.

Credits:
Brandon Rios vs Urbano Antillon photo courtesy of ESPN
Paul Williams vs Erislandy Lara photo courtesy of Fightnews.com

Weigh-In: Brandon Rios vs Urbano Antillon

Brandon Rios vs Urbano Antillon

By Randy De La O

To borrow a phrase from Mark Twain - sort of - "Rumors of boxing's death are greatly exaggerated". If you don't believe me, just take a look at the talent laden lightweight division. The current Ring ratings have Juan Manuel Marquez as their champion, and rightly so, following in the number one position is Brandon Rios, who also happens to be the WBA Lightweight Champion, and one of boxing's newest and most exciting young fighter. Number two and three in the rankings Humberto Soto (WBC Champion) and Robert Guerrero, followed by John Murray, Michael Katsidis, Miguel Acosta, Paulus Moses, Urbano Antillon, Miguel Vazquez and Antonio De Marco. If that isn't enough, the next division above are the the Super Lightweights/Junior Welterweights (take your pick) with guys like Timothy Bradley, Marcos Maidana, Amir Khan and Eric Morales ready to face any of the lightweights should they decide to move up.

After Eric Morales' outstanding performance against Marcos Maidana, earning a draw that many felt should have been a win for Morales, a fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Morales suddenly seems like a great match up. Of the great Mexican trio of champions, Marquez, Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, only Marquez and Morales have yet to face each other. Maybe it'll happen yet.

Urbano Antillon

Urbano Antillon will challenge Brandon Rios this Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California for Rios' WBA Lightweight title. Antillon has failed in two attempts at the title, getting stopped in the 9th round by Miguel Acosta in July of 2009 in Mexico, and most recently, in his last fight with Humberto Soto, losing a hard fought unanimous decision. Antillon 28 years old, is from Mexico but now lives Maywood, California. He's won 28 of his 30 fights and is an exciting and forward moving fighter that fights his way inside and knows how to work the body. He's not afraid to mix it up. The two failed attempts for a title will be spurring him on tomorrow night. He'll be motivated.

Brandon Rios

Brandon Rios has become one of my favorite fighters. He's a little cocky, but in a good way, a little bit of a bad boy, but again, in a good way. He has a likable personality. More than anything though, He likes to fight. He's not perfect and sometimes guys that like to fight the way Rios does don't last long. I'm hoping he does. He's good for boxing. Rios is undefeated in 28 bouts, the lone blemish is a draw with Manuel Perez in 2008. Rios stopped Perez in the rematch a year later, in the 7th round of a scheduled 10 round bout.

Saturday's fight has the potential to be a fight of the year, if it lives up to the expectations. These two guys honestly don't like each other.  I like both of these guys but my gut says Brandon keeps his title, maybe by knockout. However, as always, may the best man win! The fight will be shown on Showtime. Their weight for Saturday night: Brandon Rios 135 - Urbano Antillon 134.75

Miguel Acosta vs. Brando Rios - DeMarco vs. Reyes Recap - SHOWTIME Boxing

Showtime Sports presents a recap of Miguel Acosta vs. Brandon Rios. Relive Bam Bam Rios' knockout punch, plus footage from the Antonio DeMarco and Reyes Sanchez fight.

In This Corner With James Smith: Rios Battles Back and KO's Acosta

Brandon Rios KO's Miguel Acosta to Take the WBA Lightweight Title

Photo Courtesy of Showtime Boxing

By Randy De La O

Saturday night, at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Brandon Rios did what challengers are supposed to do, he went out and took the title from the champion, Miguel Acosta. In what turned out to be the toughest fight of his career, Rios hung in there after a rough start, made adjustments, came back and stopped Acosta in the 10th round.

In the first few rounds Rios had trouble with Acosta’s speed and range and was hurt more than once, but with dogged perseverance and determination he continued to stalk Acosta, resolute in his belief that he would find a way. Acosta, just as determined showed why he had not lost since 2003, in his last 19 fights. He was out boxing Rios, keeping him at a distance and at times he was out slugging him. When the middle rounds began Rios tightened up his defense, closed the gap and took the fight inside. It paid off. In the six Rios caught the champion with a left and a right but it was a stiff jab that sent him down.

Up until the first knockdown Acosta was in control of the fight. After the knockdown he seemed desperate and it showed in his face and in the way he was fighting. The tide had turned. Rios punching power was beginning to have an affect.

After the knockdown in the eighth, a left hook that caught Acosta as he was backing out of an exchange, the conclusion seemed inevitable. Acosta, a worthy champion, was hurt and Rios was not letting up. Still, it’s a fight and anything can happen. Acosta, showing a champion’s heart fought back but his punches had lost their snap and he was unable to keep Rios at a distance.

The end came in the 10th round when Acosta was caught by a series of punches and crumbled in the corner causing referee Joe Cortez to stop the fight. Brandon Rios was the new WBA Lightweight Champion.

Rios answered any and all questions that may have been asked of him. He showed a huge heart in Saturday night’s fight. He’s no quitter. Even when things were not going his way he never wavered. In boxing we call that Stick-to-it-ive-ness. Rios showed plenty of that. He beat a real champion in Acosta. After the fight there was no arrogance, justifiable pride, yes but no arrogance. He was just happy to be the new champ.

On the co-main event Tony DeMarco and Reyes Sanchez gave the fans at the Heartland Event Center in Grand Island, Nebraska, their monies worth, going the distance in a hard fought battle, with DeMarco getting the win. Sanchez, like Brandon Rios against Acosta, never let up, never stopped trying and he gave DeMarco all he could handle. For most of the fight though, DeMarco remained in control. Things might have been different if Sanchez actually had a punch.

The night belonged to Rios and with this victory, the lightweight division is really heating up. With fellow lightweight champions Juan Manuel Marquez, Humberto Soto and Miguel Vaqzuez all looming as potential opponents, and with guys like John Molina, Robert Guerrero and former champions and legends Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales in the midst, the future looks bright for Rios and the lightweight division.

Congratulations to Brandon Rios for winning the WBA Lightweight title with an exciting 10th knockout over champion Miguel Acosta and Kudos to Showtime Boxing and Bob Arum for a great fight and great matchmaking.

Related articles

• Brandon Rios Stops Acosta in 10th Round to Capture Lightweight Crown (bleacherreport.com)
• Rios stuns Acosta to grab WBA lightweight title (tsn.ca)