Fight night
When: 3:05 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mandalay Bay Events Center Main event: Danny Garcia vs. Brandon Rios
Co-main event: David Benavidez vs. Ronald Gavril
TV: Showtime (telecast starts at 7 p.m.) Tickets: Axs.com
limit won’t be a problem.
“I’m actually training and preparing for a fight, I’m not training for a weight loss,” Rios said. “That’s a big difference. I’m more focused and more disciplined. I feel revitalized.
“I needed that time off. I was in so many wars. I don’t wake up hurting anymore. My body finally feels right.”
Rios returns to Mandalay Bay for the first time since his thrilling backand-forth rematch against Alvarado. Rios lost the 12-round ring war by unanimous decision in one of the best fights of 2013. Rios won the Alvarado series with victories in the first and third bouts.
Rios (34-3-1, 25 knockouts) said he can bring that same type of intensity against Garcia (33-1, 19 KOS). He displayed it during his comeback fight with a seventh-round knockout over Aaron Herrera in June.
The Mexican-american fighter is a fan favorite with his come-forward boxing style and uncensored one-liners. He had another catchy saying for the critics who called him Garcia’s latest cherry-picked opponent.
“If they want to call me a cherry, at least call me a wild berry because I’m a wild man,” a smiling Rios said. “I’m ready to shut everyone up.”
Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Gmanzano24 on Twitter.