Timothy Bradley vs. Brandon Rios
Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Sarah Gruber, Staff Writer
Both Timothy Bradley and Brandon Rios are really tough fighters that never shy away from a tough challenge. Bradley has really been an exciting fighter. He has shown great character and skill, but it seems like he has never really shown his full potential. Knowing that Bradley has the heart of a warrior the thought of him working with trainer Teddy Atlas really thrills me. Atlas has a great eye for finding technical flaws in the opposition and how to capitalize on those flaws.
Brandon Rios is undoubtedly one of the toughest fighters in boxing, he would likely go to war with any fighter, any day of the week. I think that Rios is pissed off for greatness and wants to prove that he is one of the best fighters in the welterweight division and not just a phone-booth type brawler. I have listened to a few interviews with Rios lately and the man is pissed off for greatness. He feels he has something to prove, which can be a great fuel in the ring. These two should go toe-to-toe trading punches, but the winner will be the one that can both box and punch. I just don’t see that person being Rios.
I think the normally flat footed Bradley will be improved skill-wise under the training of Atlas and should be able to outbox Rios throughout most rounds. Rios does have heavy hands and if he can land powerful shots on the chin of Bradley he could score a knockout, but I just don’t see that happening. Bradley will brawl with Rios enough to keep the fans entertained, but will also use his technical skills and Atlas’ boxing intelligence to out box Rios to a decision victory. Bradley by decision.
Prediction: Bradley
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
This will be a fun fight, because these guys have difficulty not being in fun fights. Brandon Rios’ game plan hasn’t wavered from the very beginning–move forward, use his face to block punches, and break his opponent’s soul. It’s generally pretty effective, when he’s not facing guys like Manny Pacquiao. Tim Bradley is often his own worst enemy–he doesn’t hit particularly hard, but he fights as though he punches like Tommy Hearns. This often leads to trouble, like when he went to war with Ruslan “I Thirst For Human Blood” Provodnikov.
Last time out, he took previously undefeated Jessie Vargas to school, that is until the last round when he got blindly drilled and nearly knocked out. We’ll never know how that fight would have ended, because referee Pat Russell needed a nap and shut the fight down early. Rios hasn’t looked all that great lately, and beating up on Mike Alvarado’s lifeless body earlier this year didn’t provide much insight as to what he’s got left. Pressure fighters who take punishment are not long for the boxing world, so even at age 29, he might be dunzo. He’ll have a helluva task in front of him, because Bradley isn’t short on heart and stones.
Bradley is a WAY better boxer, with advantages in nearly every category imaginable. But he can be prodded into war with relative ease. Rios will do exactly that. It’s up to Bradley’s new trainer, Teddy Atlas, to reel him in. That’s right, Teddy Atlas will have to reel in the crazy. Read that again. They’d better use about 57 high-quality microphones in that corner, because we’ll all get to enjoy some of the weirdest, most maniacal-but-possibly-brilliant stuff anybody has ever heard.
I’m picking Bradley by decision, because Rios would have to have his skull cracked in half in order to be stopped, and even then, I think he’d just giggle and plod forward with his brain cavity exposed.
Prediction: Bradley
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
Brandon Rios enters the fight as a 5-to-1 underdog. As the old adage goes, styles make fights. I see this shaping up as the classic boxer versus puncher.
Tim Bradley is a far superior boxer and I expect his game plan to be based on movement, sliding in and out and using his faster hands and quicker feet to win the fight. For Rios to have a chance, he must get inside and stay on Bradley’s chest the entire fight and make it an ugly war.
If you can lure Bradley into a toe-to-toe slugfest, as Ruslan Provodnikov did, Rios has a real chance. I don’t see that happening. I expect Bradley’s superior athleticism and boxing skills to win him the fight by decision.
Prediction: Bradley
Ardy Ajoste, Graphic Designer
Prediction: Bradley
Brandon Glass, Staff Writer
Tim Bradley will never get the credit he deserves. If you go through his resume, he’s faced and beaten the who’s who of opponents (not named Floyd Mayweather) from 140 to 147 pounds over the last half decade or so. That being said, dropping Joel Diaz for Teddy Atlas was a bold move for Bradley and Brandon Rios is the perfect dance partner to see if Atlas can teach the old dog some new tricks.
Rios is a recklessly basic fighter (and we love him for it), who had tons of success beating up on guys he was bigger than at 135, until he started showing up to weigh ins looking like an extra for The Walking Dead. Rios moved up to the welters and had success, but not like at 135. Unsurprisingly, his punching power didn’t transfer to the higher weights as well as his ability to take a punch.
Ultimately, Tim Bradley should be able to outbox Rios with ease, but Bradley’s inability to escape a brawl will be exactly what Rios and Garcia are banking on. Doesn’t makes sense when you consider only two of Rios’s six fights at 140 or above resulted in stoppages (both against Mike Alvarado) and Bradley has never been stopped.
Bradley is so much better on the inside than he’s given credit for, based on his deficiency in punching power (even more so than Rios). Bradley just has more experience and more tools in the toolbox, than the rugged, but game, Brandon Rios. Bradley wins this by decision.
Prediction: Bradley
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
I think this is a pretty big mismatch in terms of skill. Tim Bradley has advantages in boxing IQ, athleticism, speed and pretty much any measurable category. That’s not to say that Brandon Rios sucks, he’s just got those intangibles like huevos and heart that you can’t take for granted, but only will get you so far.
Rios’ come-forward style and relentless pressure will mentally break down most guys, but this is Bradley we’re talking about, so I don’t think that’ll happen.
The interesting twist here is that Bradley has brought in Teddy Atlas to train him, hoping the animated trainer can teach him something new. If Atlas can get Bradley back to boxing and using his athletic advantages, it should be target practice on Saturday night and “Desert Storm” should easily beat Rios over 12 rounds.
Prediction: Bradley
