Controversial Rios vs. Abril Results:
Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios maintained his undefeated status on Saturday night – but he can say goodbye to the unblemished resume. That’s due to the fact that he was able to somehow escape with a split decision victory in his fight against Richard Abril, however, to anybody watching the fight objectively, it seemed as if it was a clear Abril victory. It’s just the latest in a long line of terrible scorecards and controversial incidents in the squared circle these days.
Rios took home the decision with scores of 116-112 and 115-113 in his favor, with the third card going 117-111 to Abril. Watching the fight at home, most people were in line with the card going to Abril, and anywhere from 116-112 in his favor to 118-110 in his favor seemed to be about right.
It was an awful, unjust decision, and the latest black eye for a sport based loosely on the premise of giving black eyes. Not only did Rios take home the terrible decision, but he showed up to the fight overweight. The title wasn’t even at stake for him, and neither was the winner’s purse.
He shouldn’t have been fighting at lightweight to begin with, either. The last time he tried to do that, he showed up gaunt and overweight, but his team and promoter decided to put him in there at 135 lbs again anyway.
For a fight against Yuriorkis Gamboa that made some sense, as it was such a potentially high profile, mouth-watering contest. But for this match against Richard Abril, what was the point?
Abril got screwed at the weigh-ins, and he got screwed after it was over. He falls to 17-3-1, and good luck to him getting another opportunity like this again.
“Bam Bam” maintains his undefeated record, and gets to keep on the dictated path that will likely see him meet Juan Manuel Marquez in the summer, if Marquez is victorious in his fight later this evening. (Although let’s be honest right now, even if Marquez isn’t victorious, would it matter? Would the judges agree?)
After the fight, here’s what Rios had to say:
“Abril was an awkward fighter he held a lot. I thought the ref should’ve penalized him, but he didn’t. Not making weight did not drain me yesterday I feel great physically. Wasn’t’ my best fight tonight, but I am pleased with my performance. 140 is where I’m going 140 here I come.”
The worst part is, we’re so used to these travesties taking place, that by next week we’ll be ready to move on and start bracing for the next mishap or controversy. It makes it hard to be a fan, or try to defend the sport, when this kind of verdict comes down not just tonight, but routinely.
The only surprise was that the fight wasn’t in Texas.
