Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
Cuban out-boxes ‘Bam Bam’ in Vegas
A classy Richard Abril should be celebrating becoming the WBA
lightweight champion following an assured performance against former title
holder Brandon Rios at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.
The 29 year-old, who was the only fighter who could claim
the belt as Rios failed to make 135lbs yet again, totally out-boxed a sluggish Rios
for at least eight rounds to take the fight 117-112 on my scorecard.
How judges Jerry Roth (116-112) and Glenn Trowbridge (115-113)
saw the contest for Rios is beyond belief and is only doing a dis-service to
boxing as a spectacle and a sport. Adalaide Byrd was more accurate carding 117-111 as Abril out-manoeuvred
and bamboozled Rios at times as ‘Bam Bam’ walked in taking combinations from
the Cuban all night.
The only criticism you could level at Abril was his
clinching once Rios came in close, but he was warned twice by referee Vic Drakulich
and it would never have affected the outcome of the fight anyway.
Rios, 25, should now be contemplating his first defeat, and the
ludicrous decision for him to continue fighting at 135lbs after losing his WBA title
on the scales in New York before stopping England’s John Murray.
The Oxnard fighter is instead looking forward to a probable
July date against Juan Manuel Marquez, which is a sad reflection of the way
boxing has been dragged for years and a complete overhaul of judging is needed
to save the sport from losing more fans.