Brandon Ríos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brandon Ríos |
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Ríos in 2011
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Brandon Lee Ríos |
| Nickname(s) | Bam Bam |
| Rated at |
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| Height | 5 ft 8 in |
| Reach | 68 in |
| Born | April 29, 1986 Lubbock, Texas, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 41 |
| Wins | 35 |
| Wins by KO | 26 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Draws | 1 |
Brandon Lee Ríos, born on April 29, 1986, is a former professional boxer from the United States. He was known for his exciting and aggressive fighting style. People called him "Bam Bam" because of his powerful punches. Ríos was also famous for his strong "chin," meaning he could take many hits without getting knocked down. He won the WBA Lightweight title in 2011. He also fought for the WBO Welterweight title in 2015.
Contents
Becoming a Boxer
Early Boxing Days
Brandon Ríos had a great start in amateur boxing. He won 230 fights and only lost 35. In 2004, he became the U.S. National Amateur Featherweight champion. He was also an alternate for the United States Olympic team. This means he was ready to step in if another boxer couldn't compete.
Ríos met his future trainer, Robert Garcia, during the Olympic trials. Even though their first meeting was a bit messy, it led to a strong partnership. Garcia later invited Ríos to train in Oxnard, California.
Starting as a Professional
Brandon Ríos signed with Top Rank, a big boxing company. On October 17, 2009, he won a fight against Manuel Pérez. He won by TKO (Technical Knockout) in the seventh round.
His next big fight was a WBA title eliminator. This meant the winner would get a chance to fight for a championship. He fought Anthony Peterson, who had never lost a fight. Ríos won this fight when Peterson was disqualified for hitting him below the belt too many times.
Ríos then fought Omri Lowther. He won this fight by TKO in the fifth round. This win set him up for a chance to fight for a world title.
Championship Wins and Big Fights
Winning the Lightweight Title
On February 26, 2011, Brandon Ríos fought Miguel Acosta from Venezuela. Acosta was the WBA World Lightweight Champion. Ríos defeated Acosta in the tenth round by TKO. This made Brandon Ríos the new WBA Lightweight champion.
First Title Defense
Ríos's first time defending his title was against Urbano Antillón. This fight was exciting and fast-paced. Ríos won by knockout in the third round. He showed his power and kept his championship belt.
Moving Up in Weight: Light Welterweight
Ríos vs. Alvarado: The First Two Fights
Brandon Ríos had two memorable fights against Mike Alvarado. Their first match was on October 13, 2012. It was a very tough fight, with both boxers hitting hard. Ríos was behind on the judges' scorecards. But in the sixth round, he hurt Alvarado with a strong punch. Ríos then stopped Alvarado in the seventh round. This fight was so exciting that Sports Illustrated called it the "Fight of the Year" for 2012.
They had a rematch on March 30, 2013. This fight was also full of action. But Alvarado changed his plan. He used more movement and was harder to hit. Alvarado won this second fight by a unanimous decision.
Moving Up Again: Welterweight
Ríos vs. Pacquiao
On November 23, 2013, Ríos fought the famous boxer Manny Pacquiao. They fought for the WBO International Welterweight title in Macau. Pacquiao won the 12-round fight.
Ríos vs. Alvarado: The Third Fight
After another win, Ríos fought Mike Alvarado for a third time. This fight happened on January 24, 2015, in Alvarado's hometown. Ríos was very strong in this fight. He punished Alvarado for three rounds. The referee stopped the fight before the fourth round began, giving Ríos the win.
Ríos vs. Bradley and Retirement
On November 7, 2015, Ríos fought Timothy Bradley for the WBO Welterweight title. Bradley won every round of the fight. The referee stopped the fight in the ninth round. This was the first time Ríos had been stopped in his professional career.
After the fight, Brandon Ríos announced he was retiring from boxing. He said his body was not performing the same way anymore. He also wanted to spend more time with his family.
Comeback Fights
Ríos returned to boxing on June 11, 2017. He had a new trainer, Ricky Funez. Ríos won his comeback fight against Aaron Herrera by knockout in the seventh round.
He then fought Danny Garcia, a highly ranked boxer. Garcia won the fight by TKO in the ninth round.
Next, Ríos fought Ramon Alvarez, whose brother is the famous boxer Canelo Alvarez. It was an action-packed fight. Ríos started a bit slow but came back strong. He defeated Alvarez in the ninth round.
Ríos's last fight was against Humberto Soto. Ríos kept moving forward and tried to exchange punches. But Soto was more skilled and won the fight by a clear decision from the judges.
Life Outside the Ring
Family Life
Brandon Ríos married Victoria López in August 2010. He has five children. His three daughters are named Laila, Mia, and Ava. He named them after famous female boxers Mia St. John and Laila Ali. His two sons are named Brandon Jr. and Marcus Antonio. Marcus Antonio is named after the Mexican World Champion Marco Antonio Barrera. Brandon Ríos lives in Oxnard, California.
Friendships and Rivalries
Brandon Ríos and Victor Ortiz were once friends and trained at the same boxing gym in Kansas. Their relationship became difficult after an incident in 2009. There were talks about them fighting each other in the ring, as Ríos often said he had the upper hand during their sparring sessions when they were younger.
A Misunderstanding
Before a big fight, Brandon Ríos, Antonio Margarito, and Robert Garcia were interviewed. During the interview, some gestures they made were misunderstood by the media. They were actually joking about comments made by Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach. Ríos later explained that he was just joking around and didn't know that Roach had Parkinson's disease. He said their actions were a response to Roach's "trash talking" before the fight.
Images for kids
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Ríos (right) with Antonio Margarito, 2011
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Ríos (right) versus John Murray, 2011
See also
In Spanish: Brandon Ríos para niños
