By Joseph Herron: In Rocky II, the main character finds himself in the biggest fight of his humble boxing career versus a stronger, more skilled and technically proficient champion. During the fight, the champion, Apollo Creed, takes an early lead by putting on a boxing clinic, not only by out-boxing the overmatched challenger, but also hurting him with power shots. Balboa could have easily become discouraged and conceded defeat to a worthy champion, but those of us who were watching the movie for the first time knew that Rocky had the intestinal fortitude to work his way back into the fight and eventually defeat the powerful champ.
This past Saturday, as the fight entered the middle rounds, those of us watching “Rios versus Acosta” had a feeling that “Bam Bam” had that same intestinal fortitude, to not only work his way back into the fight, but to defeat the WBA Champion.
Just like the cinematic icon, Brandon Rios overcame adversity and knocked out his opponent to become a champion…and just like Rocky Balboa, most who watched the fight found themselves rooting for him unconditionally.
Some of the characteristics which made Rocky Balboa so endearing to such a broad spectrum of fans were his honesty, heart, and self awareness. We all loved how the “Italian Stallion” believed in himself and had confidence in his abilities, but through humility, was made very aware of his shortcomings.
Anyone who watched Brandon Rios before, during, and after the fight, couldn’t help but see glimpses of Stallone’s famed character being bought to life.
In the early stages of the fight, Brandon Rios seemed completely over-matched, and it initially appeared as if Bob Arum had made a dreadful mistake by pairing his young, rugged prospect against a gifted boxer with knock-out power in Miguel Acosta. Through four grueling rounds, the WBA champion had built a considerable lead against the determined challenger by using superior footwork and hand speed.
Rios ignored the pain and proceeded to walk the champion down reciting to himself, “don’t give up…you’ll eventually chop him down…don’t give up.”
Rios didn’t give up. He listened to trainer Robert Garcia and continued to pursue the elusive champion. Finally, over a span of ten breath-taking rounds, “Bam-Bam” gradually chopped down the tough Venezuelan fighter to earn his most impressive knock-out victory to date, flooring the former champ three times.
After releasing his signature “Grito”, a celebratory screamed ritual, Rios looked into the camera and said, “to my wife … I love you, Vicky,” just as Rocky endearingly acknowledged Adrian after his hard fought victory over the champion, Apollo Creed.
When asked by Showtime’s Jim Gray what this victory meant to him after everything that he had been through in his life, Rios stated, “It means a lot…It means that if a kid like me, who is always in and out of trouble…almost had his career taken away…can come back and deliver this kind of a performance and become world champion, anyone can do it…dreams are possible…just stick to your dreams.”
Jim Gray proceeded to ask the new WBA Lightweight Champion how close he was to quitting and giving up on himself. “I never give up” exclaimed Rios. “I’m a warrior…I keep going and going. Even though Acosta was a tough fighter, and hurt me with some good body shots, I kept going and going…had to keep going for my family, my coach, and everybody out there.”
Like the fictional character “Rocky Balboa”, Brandon Rios is living proof that “persistence wears down resistance”. Not just inside of the “squared circle”, but outside of it as well.
Admittedly, Brandon Rios nearly lost his dream of becoming a world champion because of his knack for getting into trouble with the law. Growing up in Garden City, KS, he ran with a bad crowd…people who didn’t have his best interests in mind. The young Hispanic fighter spent all of his time on the streets and not in the gym.
Brandon’s career and his life seemed destined for failure until he met trainer Robert Garcia, who changed his life for the better. Garcia not only agreed to take the young fighter under his wing, but also introduced the pugilist to his current wife, Vicky, the other positive influence in his life. Rios moved to Oxnard, CA, to train with Robert Garcia and hasn’t looked back. Since rededicating his life to the love of his craft and the love of his family, Brandon Rios has not only become the new WBA Lightweight Champion, but like Rocky, he’s become a genuine American success story as well.
Although “Bam-Bam” has conquered great adversities in and out of the ring, there is one weakness that he has yet to overcome. It’s a flaw that is endearing to some and a repellent to most. To say that Brandon is the type of person who likes to speak his mind, would be a massive understatement.
“I don’t do it to hurt anyone,” says the new champion. “I don’t do it to be cruel. It’s just the way that I’ve been all of my life.” It’s a habit which Rios attributes to his past. “We talked like that, you know. It’s just the way that I talk.”
Brandon’s habit of speaking his mind nearly caused him to be ostracized from the boxing world.
“Freddie Roach was going around wearing some metal gloves and talking about our team,” explains Rios. “He was calling Antonio a murderer and saying that he was trying to murder somebody” “I just got caught up in the heat of the moment.”
He realizes that this doesn’t excuse his behavior on tape. Rios claims that he is genuinely sorry for his comments and hopes that he can put this unfortunate episode behind him.
“I’m really sorry. It didn’t have anything to do with Roach’s Parkinson’s disease or with anybody who is disabled. It just came out badly.”
Despite having a noticable “speech impediment”, the real life “Rocky Balboa” is the newly crowned WBA Champion and one of the brightest stars in the Top Rank universe.
So if Brandon is the real life “Rocky Balboa”, who and where is the real life “Clubber lang”?
Due to the childish Top Rank/Golden Boy feud, Brandon’s future opposition is a little unclear at 135lbs.
Bob Arum has already stated that a rematch with Miguel Acosta is not likely to be in the near future. The “Bobinater” is trying to get a “big name” for Brandon’s next fight. Unfortunately, Juan Manuel Marquez, who is the universally recognized champion of the lightweight division, is a Golden Boy fighter. Also, if he were to “jump ship”, JMM is interested in a third bout with Manny Pacquiao and wouldn’t jeopardize a super fight against a tough rugged opponent like Rios.
Humberto Soto, a Top Rank fighter, seems to not want any part of “Bam-Bam”, and Michael Katsidis and Robert “the Ghost” Guerrero are both Golden Boy fighters.
Ali Funeka is an option. Funeka’s nine month suspension is just ending, but it’s highly unlikely that Ali Funeka would be able to fight at 135lbs after testing positive for a diuretic used to lose weight before his 2010 bout with Joan Guzman.
This leaves Urbano Antillon, Marco Antonio Barrera, and John Murray as realistic options for the newly crowned WBA Champion.
Who knows? Maybe “Rocky’s” “Clubber Lang” is waiting for him at 140lbs in a fighter named Marcos Maidana?
We will have to wait and see when Rocky III comes out later this year.