Brandon Rios: “I Make A Lot of Jokes”

Lightweight BRANDON RIOS burst onto the boxing scene with a dominating win over the previously undefeated ANTHONY PETERSON. But Rios is no overnight sensation. In addition to slugging his way through first-rate competition during his six years as a pro, Rios overcame personal problems, including multiple run-ins with the law, before his big coming out party Sept. 11^th.

But with fame comes attention. And while most of the focus on Rios has been positive, a video leaked on YouTube Nov. 10 has caused him some headaches. We caught up with Rios the day before the video went viral during his campmate ANTONIO MARGARITO’s open work-out to talk about Rios’ new-found notoriety, his desire to fight lightweight champion HUMBERTO SOTO, and the art of the locker room joke.

You were supposed to fight on a Margarito card for his comeback fight [on May 8th]. Now you’re gonna be back on a Margarito card. How does that feel?

It feels good. I supposed to fight on May 8^th in Auguascalientes, but I got cut. So unfortunately, I didn’t get to do that. Now I get to fight with him on a big card-an even bigger one-at Cowboys Stadium. It’s a blessing.

You’ve been a big hit on HBO’s “24/7.” Have you got any feedback on that?

Not really. I don’t see it–that’s just me. That’s the way I talk. That’s just the way I am 24-7. So everybody’s saying that I became on star on there. I was like, “The star’s really Margarito. They follow him, not me.”

Have you had much time to study your upcoming opponent?

They showed me the video. He’s an awkward fighter. Nothing I can’t handle. He’s not a Peterson talent. It’s gonna take me a little more time to figure him out, then just bang the shit out of him-take him out.

Have you been training at all while you’ve been here in Texas?

I was training yesterday. I ran this morning. I’m about to go later on tonight and go train again.

So, there are two guys– [Urbano] Antillon and [Humberto] Soto–who are fighting on Dec. 4. You may end up fighting the winner of that fight. Is that something that you want?

That’s something that I’ve been waiting for. I’ve been looking for that for a while. And Soto, I’m just hoping he doesn’t duck me. He’s saying that everyone is ducking him. But this is the No. 1 guy right here [and he’s] not ducking him. This is the No. 1 guy that wants to fight him. I want that belt from him. I think I can take him probably, too.

You feel like your patience is staring to pay off.

I’ve been with Robert for six years-fighting for six years. I’m not worrying about it. But right now, Robert and them–even [Top Rank chief] Bob Arum and all them–thinks it’s time to let a star come out. It’s time to let me come out. I’ve got a lot of amateur experience, and I’m ready to just show the world that I’m a new contender coming up in the lightweight. And I’m ready to show everybody who Bam Bam is.

 

Is there any negative side to all the attention you’ve been getting since the Peterson fight?

There’s always negative people and positive people. And it hasn’t gotten to me. I’m not even worried about it. I don’t focus on it. I’m not like, “Aw, the camera’s on me. I gotta look good.” I just be me. Like I said: I’m a clown. People think I’m cocky, but that’s just the way I talk.

You like to make jokes.

I make a lot of jokes. That’s just who I am.

And even before your fights, when most fighters are getting serious and pumped up, I know that you like to joke around a lot.

In the locker room I fuck around a lot. When I start thinking about the fight, is when I’m walking into the ring. And then when the bell rings, all that goes away.

Do you have any predictions for your fight?

I’m not gonna say no prediction right now for my fight, because I’ve never seen this guy. But I’ll tell you one thing: Somebody’s gonna get knocked out. And it’s not gonna be me.

What about the Magarito-Pacquiao fight?

My prediction is that he’s gonna go to the later rounds-between 8 to 12 rounds-[Margarito is] gonna get a knock out [over Pacquiao].