Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (28-0-1, 20 KOs) retained his world title Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson Calif. with an action-packed dramatic fashion, recording a third-round stoppage over Urbano Antillon (28-3, 20 KOs).
Rios knocked Antillon down with a devastating left hook for the first of two knockdowns at the start of the third round. It was a shot Antillon would never recover from. Moments later Rios landed overhand right hand that sent Antillon to the canvas face first somehow, Antillon dragged himself to his feet, but the end came when referee David Mendoza waved if off after Antillon stumbled toward his corner at 2:49 in the third round.
“I got caught,” Antillon said. “Soto is a great champion with much better defensive skills, but Rios is strong. He’s much stronger than Soto. It took a lot out of me, that first knockdown.”
Rios struggle to make weight and has stated he will be moving up to super lightweight, 140 lbs. Rumor is that he might face 37, Marco Antonio Barrera who was at ringside as a commentator for Azteca TV.
“I came and did what I told everybody I was going to do,” Rios said. “I said I was going to knock him out, and I did. Antillon was a hell of a fighter at one time, but not this time. I’m young. I’m more hungrier. I’m more powerful. I’m going to the top and I see my career rising from here.
“Anybody out there at 135, I’m inviting you (to fight) right now. If you’re 135, you don’t have to hunt around and look for a fight. I’m right here standing. If not, 140, here I come.”
In the co-feature, Carlos Molina (19-4-2, 6 KOs) outworked former IBF welterweight world champion Kermit Cintron (32-4-1, 28 KOs), who was fighting for the first time in 14 months, in a 10-round junior middleweight clash in what many considered an upset, identical on all three cards, 98-92.
“I was never hurt, thank God,” Molina said. “I was prepared and ready. I didn’t think about [Cintron’s] ring rust. I’ve had to deal with two years of ring rust in my career. You still have to prepare to fight.”
Also on the undercard fighting for the first time under the Top Rank banner, unbeaten lightweight Mercito Gesta (22-0-1, 11 KO’s) outslug Jorge Pimentel, dropping him with a devastating right uppercut in the third round, after three knockouts in the same round referee Raul Caiz, Jr. stepped in and stopped the bout at 2:23.
Saturday night’s telecast will re-air Tuesday, July 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME Extreme. It will also be available On-Demand: July 12-July 25, 2011
Photos by Maria Hedrick
Rios looked good against another puncher, it was a good fight while it lasted. I wonder how he would do against a good boxer.
Jesus,
I don’t think the Home Depot Center does enough to market the fights that take place there.
I have seen Margarito vs Paul Williams, Marquez vs Vasquez 3, Abraham vs Ward etc etc and never sold out or really even full.
You put those same fights a Staples and its packed.
But regardless, I believe it is one of the best places to see a fight.
Very underrated!
Great fights. I’m suprised to the the arena with a lot of empty seats. Too bad. The Hope Depot Center is a greeat venue for boxing.
Even though it was short this was one hell of a fight, they did what they said they were gonna do and just go at it, it was pretty damn exciting I would like to see Rios fight Matthysse if he steps up to 140 but I only see him being able to win against sluggers like himself I think Khan might be too slick for him. As for Molina he put forward a great effort and I was glad to see him get the win I hope it does set him up for an even bigger fight where he actually has time to prepare himself, ring rust was pretty evident for Cintron and I don’t think he’s done yet, he can bounce back.
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