Timothy Bradley has no Trouble Beating Brandon Rios

Picture Courtesy: Chris Farina / Top Rank

By Francisco Romero. – Tim Bradley looked like a man on a mission inside the ring Saturday night and the mission was accomplished as he dominated against Brandon Rios with ease at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was no contest!

Rios came into the fight with high hopes of beating Bradley, after beating Mike Alvarado (KO) in January calling it the best fight of his career.

Bradley was making the first defense of his 147 lbs. belt.

What Rios encountered Saturday night was a Bradley fighting at his best; Rios looked weak, he had trouble making the weight (147 lbs.) and it showed inside the

ring.

Bradley punished Rios throughout the fight landing combinations with total control.

During the ninth round Rios tried, but was knocked down twice, after the second knock down referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight.

“I punished him throughout the fight landing punches that hurt him,” said Bradley after the fight. “In the ninth round I took a step back and landed a hard punch.”

After the bout Rios told HBO that it might be time to walk away from the sport.

“He hit me with a perfect body shot up the middle and followed up with an equally good shot up the side,” Rios said to Kieran Mulvaney of HBO. “The better man won. It is what it is. Maybe eight months of inactivity played a part. But I’m making no excuses. I’m done.”

Rios’ record stands now at 33-3-1, 24 KOs.

Bradley’s record improved to 33-1-1, 13 KO’s and gets to keep the 147-pounds belt.

Suddenly a lot of doors have opened up now for Bradly after Saturday’s victory; the possibility of a third fight against Manny Pacquiao are on the table as well as a possible fight against Saul “El Canelo” Alvarez if Canelo beats Miguel Cotto.