Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images
In the first fight of HBO’s pay-per-view telecast of Cotto-Canelo, Ronny Rios (25-1, 10 KOs) scored a ten-round unanimous decision victory against Jayson Velez (23-1, 16 KOs) to win the WBC Silver Featherweight title at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.
Rios won with scores of 97-92, 95-94, and 96-93.
For most of his career, Rios was on the rise as an up-and-coming Featherweight prospect, but a surprise stoppage loss derailed his rise in the ranks in October of 2014.
After a decision win in March, Rios looks to be back on track with a solid win against Velez.
“I felt like I dictated the pace of the fight, and I felt like I was landing more power punches than him,” Rios, who engaged with Velez on the inside throughout the fight,
“He did throw a few body shots at me that hurt but they weren’t significant enough for me to stop pressuring him and doing what I needed to do to secure this victory,” said Rios.
As for Velez, whose previously undefeated record was only blemished by a draw against Ivgeny Gradovich for the IBF Featherweight title last year, felt he did enough to win.
“I was expecting that to be a tough fight, but I did my job,” said Velez.
“He had some good rounds, I had some good rounds. I did my job tonight but he was better at his job tonight,” said Velez.
Rios scored a tough a solid win tonight, and his career looks to be back on track despite a year of having to rebuild it.
“This is a really big victory for me. I have a belt now, and I know that bigger things will come my way because of it,” Rios concluded.
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— RoundByRoundBoxing (@RBRBoxing) November 22, 2015
