The frustration in the Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California must be growing stronger by the day regarding Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios actually getting a fight scheduled anytime soon. After watching a mooted bout with Britain’s IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook fall apart recently due to contract/financial minutiae, a rumoured bout with new WBO 147 lb champion Tim Bradley is also now down the toilet, according to Rios’ manager Cameron Dunkin.
Speaking to ESPN.com, Dunkin said with regards to Rios/Bradley happening, the two camps were too far apart on agreeing the financials, this despite having broadcasting giant HBO on board with the idea. According to Dunkin, Top Rank President Todd duBoef told him this week to start making other plans for his client.
“Todd said (Bradley and his wife/manager Monica) were too high on the money and we need to start doing something else. He said they were in left field, or something like that. He said they didn’t come in at a number where we could make the fight.
“It wasn’t HBO’s fault and we were at a very reasonable number because Brandon really wanted the fight. But all the numbers didn’t add up to where they wanted to be so they couldn’t make it,” Dunkin added.
Rios hasn’t boxed since January’s one sided fight with an out-of-sorts Mike Alvarado, that gave him the lead in their trilogy 2:1 after two highly entertaining battles previously. For his part, Dunkin admits it’s back to the drawing board in terms of getting Brandon a fight;
“We’re going to try to find a fight for him,” Dunkin said. “We’ll go to work, try to get with HBO and find someone they’ll agree on and get Brandon fighting again. The problem is there are not a lot of guys available. It’s too bad. I think this one is over with Bradley and there’s no chance of fixing it.
“Brandon really wanted this fight and he wasn’t out of line with what he was asking for. Even (Top Rank chief Bob) Arum said that Brandon was reasonable.”
As far as Bradley goes, he is now set to face his mandatory challenger, up and coming New Yorker Sadam Ali, who was going to be financially compensated to step aside had Bradley/Rios come together.
For Rios however, the wait goes on….
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