Kell Brook vs Brandon Rios (September)

[caldo2025]

It looks like fight is nearly locked and loaded for September. I have to give Brook some credit for taking this fight. Brook is clearly on the doorstep of landing some huge money fights and he's really risking it all by taking on Rios so I have to commend him for that. If I were his promoter, i'd never even consider this one. The risk is not worth the reward in my opinion.

Brook may feel like he has the blueprint to defeat this type of fighter like Rios or Porter but Rios is a different animal these days. He's no longer the boxer that will take 3 to give 1. He's got better head movement and jab but most importantly, he's finally got his weight under control and won't be sucking down and depleted like before. I think Brook should really reconsider this before taking this fight officially.

It will be a GREAT fight for us fans but a no win situation for Brook. Millions of dollars are at risk with this one. Brook deserves a bigger fight with an elite opponent like Floyd, Manny or Bradley right now. He deserves it more than anyone else in the division at this point.

Rios is not joke. This could be a very bad move for Brook. What do you think?

[Happy Slapper]

I posted something in the British forum about what a joke match this is. Brook beats Rios handily every day of the week.

Rios is a career lightweight, has no pop at welterweight and was Pacquaio's gimme fight after getting KO'd.

If Rios wins a round, I'd be amazed. He won't get stopped though, as he is as hard as nails.

[crusader]

Rios is a different animal these days. He's no longer the boxer that will take 3 to give 1. He's got better head movement and jab but most importantly, he's finally got his weight under control and won't be sucking down and depleted like before. I think Brook should really reconsider this before taking this fight officially.

Rios was on the verge of losing to Chaves prior to the arguable DQ two fights ago, and his only fight since was against a spent opponent he'd already beaten at 140. Rios is a okay opponent for Brook in my view (really want to see Kell in with someone like Thurman, Khan, or Bradley though) and I think he would help KB boost his name in the US, but I still see him as a limited, easy to hit brawler and I suspect that KB busts him up if they fight.

[ikorolev]

Rios and Porter are both come forward fighters, but Porter is better, so Brook will win a confident UD.

[observer1]

Is this the same Rios we're talking about?

He's spent most of his career at Light Weight and only recently moved up Light-Welter / Welter

Brook should take this in an easy UD.

I much rather see him take a bigger fight like Maidana, Ortiz, Bradley, Garcia, Algeiri, Thurman etc.

[Andrew]

Easy win for Brook he will not lose a round and could stop Bam Bam late

[caldo2025]

You really don't think Rios has any chance in this one? The weight factor is an important factor and great points made here. I failed to consider that when it really is a huge factor.

Everyone is correct. Rios looked great in beating a boxer in Alvarado that was a shade of his former self. Alvarado was clearly eyeing one last payday in that contest.

Rios would have lost the bout with Diego Chavez if it continued, no doubt. But it really looked like he had his act together for that Alvarado fight. He was at weight well before the weigh in and didn't come in bloated like every other contest he's been in. His jab was popping and his movement was excellent. Way better than prior fights in which he was just a stationary punching bag.

I hope that everyone is wrong. I still would never come close to favoring Rios against Brook but I really think that this fight is going to be tougher than you all are making it out to be.

[caldo2025]

My bigger point though was that Brook has done enough to get a PPV fight against a Floyd or a Manny. No one deserves it more than he. Khan? nope. Thurman? nope. If it's a "keep busy" fight, I just think he should have picked someone a bit more "easy" than Rios. He's rejuvenated and success breads confidence and sometimes, Confidence is all you need.

[caldo2025]

My bigger point though was that Brook has done enough to get a PPV fight against a Floyd or a Manny. No one deserves it more than he. Khan? nope. Thurman? nope. If it's a "keep busy" fight, I just think he should have picked someone a bit more "easy" than Rios. He's rejuvenated and success breads confidence and sometimes, Confidence is all you need.

[observer1]

My bigger point though was that Brook has done enough to get a PPV fight against a Floyd or a Manny. No one deserves it more than he. Khan? nope. Thurman? nope. If it's a "keep busy" fight, I just think he should have picked someone a bit more "easy" than Rios. He's rejuvenated and success breads confidence and sometimes, Confidence is all you need.

How has Brook earned it more than Khan?
Khan's got a better record than Brook and is more well known in the States than most other boxers.

Brook is not even known in the UK!

[Lackeos]

It is a shame that Brook has probably missed the Mayweather sweepstakes for good. On boxing merit, he was probably the most deserving candidate.

Brandon Rios might be the second best opponent of Brook's career. Therefore, I endorse this fight as acceptable. It is not necessarily thrilling, though, and I expect Brook to be a substantial favorite.

[SenorPipino]

Brook as a PPV attraction? That's quite a joke.

Rios would draw more as a Mayweather opponent. He won't beat Brook, but the Brit boxer is a complete unknown in the U.S. and wouldn't draw bubkis.

The odious Khan at least has some recognition here even if he's not considered a legit threat.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

If Rios had his best night, the fight would look like Lara/Angulo.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

It is a shame that Brook has probably missed the Mayweather sweepstakes for good. On boxing merit, he was probably the most deserving candidate.

Brandon Rios might be the second best opponent of Brook's career. Therefore, I endorse this fight as acceptable. It is not necessarily thrilling, though, and I expect Brook to be a substantial favorite.

If Brandon Rios is the second best fighter you've fought, then you're not the most deserving fighter on boxing merit to fight Floyd.

Keith Thurman's 2013 alone dwarfs Brook's entire career. If there were a true sense of justice among boxing fans, there'd be more concerted effort behind Thurman/Floyd.

[caldo2025]

My bigger point though was that Brook has done enough to get a PPV fight against a Floyd or a Manny. No one deserves it more than he. Khan? nope. Thurman? nope. If it's a "keep busy" fight, I just think he should have picked someone a bit more "easy" than Rios. He's rejuvenated and success breads confidence and sometimes, Confidence is all you need.

How has Brook earned it more than Khan?
Khan's got a better record than Brook and is more well known in the States than most other boxers.

Brook is not even known in the UK!

Every one one of your points is incorrect. Do a morsel of research before commenting.

[Switch hitter]

It is a shame that Brook has probably missed the Mayweather sweepstakes for good. On boxing merit, he was probably the most deserving candidate.

Brandon Rios might be the second best opponent of Brook's career. Therefore, I endorse this fight as acceptable. It is not necessarily thrilling, though, and I expect Brook to be a substantial favorite.

If Brandon Rios is the second best fighter you've fought, then you're not the most deserving fighter on boxing merit to fight Floyd.

Keith Thurman's 2013 alone dwarfs Brook's entire career. If there were a true sense of justice among boxing fans, there'd be more concerted effort behind Thurman/Floyd.

Brooks win over Porter dwarfs anything that Thurmans done.....

[danamba7]

It is a shame that Brook has probably missed the Mayweather sweepstakes for good. On boxing merit, he was probably the most deserving candidate.

Brandon Rios might be the second best opponent of Brook's career. Therefore, I endorse this fight as acceptable. It is not necessarily thrilling, though, and I expect Brook to be a substantial favorite.

If Brandon Rios is the second best fighter you've fought, then you're not the most deserving fighter on boxing merit to fight Floyd.

Keith Thurman's 2013 alone dwarfs Brook's entire career. If there were a true sense of justice among boxing fans, there'd be more concerted effort behind Thurman/Floyd.

How'd you work that out!? Neither are exactly conquerors of all things world class but Brook has a very respectable win V Porter and Thurman V Guerrero. Overall Thurman has more B-listers on his CV but saying "2013 alone dwarfs Brook's entire career" is a bit OTT.

[Datsue]

If Brook was a fuckin' lightweight the fight would look like Lara/Angulo

Fixed that for you.

& also: one single win on Brook's record is better than anything Thurman has ever accomplished.

[Counter-puncher]

If Rios had his best night, the fight would look like Lara/Angulo.

I'm sorry, I have tried to infer what you mean by this but after two sighs, one shake and three scratches of my head, I have no fvcking clue what you mean.

[Monte Fisto]

i like this fight, and think it will be tough for Kell. Rios is on the downward but still he is hugely game and bring copious amounts of pressure. will be a good test.

[Tanzio]

By the look of this thread, the fight should be Brook v Thurman. In fact, fighting Rios will not be productive for Brook. Kell is bigger, more gifted and skilled, has better pop and he is simply smarter.

Fighting Rios is not good prep for the upper tier, with the possible exception of Maidana.

That said, it is a relatively credible fight.

[Lackeos]

It is a shame that Brook has probably missed the Mayweather sweepstakes for good. On boxing merit, he was probably the most deserving candidate.

Brandon Rios might be the second best opponent of Brook's career. Therefore, I endorse this fight as acceptable. It is not necessarily thrilling, though, and I expect Brook to be a substantial favorite.

If Brandon Rios is the second best fighter you've fought, then you're not the most deserving fighter on boxing merit to fight Floyd.

Keith Thurman's 2013 alone dwarfs Brook's entire career. If there were a true sense of justice among boxing fans, there'd be more concerted effort behind Thurman/Floyd.

Brook's win over Shawn Porter is better than anything Thurman has ever done. Shawn Porter is roughly the 6th best welterweight, with wins over Devon Alexander, Adrian Broner, and Paulie Malignaggi. Thurman has beaten a handful of gatekeepers like Guerrero, Bundu, Soto Karass, Chaves, and Zaveck. So Porter has beat 2 lower-tier contenders and a gatekeeper; Thurman has beat 5 gatekeepers. It is really dubious whether Thurman's wins are even better than Porter's wins.

[Lackeos]

By the look of this thread, the fight should be Brook v Thurman.

Perhaps in an ideal world, Mayweather's last fight would be against the winner of Brook and Thurman. But in reality, Mayweather's last fight will probably occur sooner than that, and he won't be around by the time a winner would emerge between Brook and Thurman.

[Tanzio]

By the look of this thread, the fight should be Brook v Thurman.

Perhaps in an ideal world, Mayweather's last fight would be against the winner of Brook and Thurman. But in reality, Mayweather's last fight will probably occur sooner than that, and he won't be around by the time a winner would emerge between Brook and Thurman.

I really don't care who FMJ fights. I will watch it but not pay for it. If Cotto v GingerHead was at the same time I would watch it instead. After that last choreographed lovefest who cares? Might as well fight Paulie ffs.

[Taansend]

I think Brook wins fairly easily but those saying Rios is a lightweight are talking nonsense. Roughly half his fights have been above 135.

He may be more suited to light welter but he's not a lightweight