LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Former WBA Lightweight title holder Brandon Rios forfeited an opportunity to regain his title as he again failed to make the lightweight limit of 135-pounds for his bout against Richard Abril tonight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. However, the grudge match will go on as scheduled, with the title on the line for Abril only. Fighters weighed in Friday afternoon at the casino’s Mizuya Lounge.
Rios (29-0-1, 22 KOs) of Oxnard, California of course was originally scheduled to fight Yuriorkis Gamboa tonight, before the Cuban’s unexpected pullout during the beginning of the promotion’s press tour. Before that tantalizing match-up began to materialize, Rios and his team had publicly declared he was going to move up to 140-pounds. Rios had failed to make the 135-pound limit for a title defense against John Murray last November, and even before that weigh-in the talk was he was done at lightweight.
Abril (17-2-1, 8 KOs) of Miami, Florida by way of Isla de la Juventud, Cuba entered into the mix after getting into a shoving match with Rios at a Florida press conference that Gamboa opted to no-show. Abril, the WBA #1 ranked lightweight and reigning interim belt holder, felt he should have been fighting for the vacant title from the start and voiced that opinion at the presser. Abril claimed that title with a twelve-round decision over former champion Miguel Acosta in Panama last October.
Rios, the WBA #3 ranked lightweight, scaled 137-pounds on his first attempt Friday. When Rios returned to give it a second try he ended up being a little heavier than the first time around. Abril, who only loses have come by split decision to Hank Lundy and Breidis Prescott, came in at the division limit of 135-pounds.
Due to the fact that Rios did not make the lightweight limit, it is not clear whether or not Abril will lose his interim title should he not win tonight. In correspondence through e-mail, WBA Executive Vice President Gilberto Mendoza Jr. informed 15rounds.com that the status of the interim title in the event of an Abril loss would decided in a meeting of the WBA’s directors.
Highlighting the undercard, light welterweight contender Mike Alvarado (32-0, 23 KOs) of Thornton, Colorado will take on once-beaten Mauricio Herrera (18-1, 7 KOs) of Lake Elsinore, California in a ten-round affair.
Alvarado comes in off of one of his better wins as he became the first to take down 140-pound contender Breidis Precott inside the distance last November. Alvarado, the WBO #3/IBF #9/WBA #11ranked light welterweight, has been taken to the final bell just once in his last six outings. Alvarado weighed in at 140-pounds Friday.
Herrera, the IBF #7 ranked 140-pounder, last saw action in June of last year. In that fight, Herrera took a controversial majority decision over prospect Mike Dallas Jr. However, the last time Herrera was in Las Vegas, he scored the most impressive win of his career. In January of 2011, Herrera stunned the crowd at the Cox Pavilion to take a decisive ten-round decision over previously unbeaten Ruslan Provodnikov. Herrera weighed in at 140-pounds.
Opening the pay-per-view telecast, touted Mercito Gesta (24-0-1, 12 KOs) of San Diego, California by way of Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines takes on journeyman Oscar Cuero (15-7, 12 KOs) of Cartagena, Colombia in a ten-round light welterweight bout.
Gesta, the WBA #7 ranked lightweight and WBO #8 ranked 140-pounder, is coming off of a ten-round decision over former title challenger Ricardo Dominguez back in November. Though Cuero does not sport a very impressive record, he has not been stopped in almost four years, having gone the distance against notables Dannie Williams and Monty Meza Clay. Gesta weighed in at 138-pounds, while Cuero scaled 137.
Light middleweight prospect Mikael Zewski (13-0, 9 KOs) of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada looks to keep busy against Midwest journeyman Brandon Baue (12-5, 10 KOs) of Troy, Missouri in a bout slated for six or eight rounds. Zewski, a former amateur star, has been matched incredibly safe despite his credentials. The Canadian fought less than a month ago, scoring a first-round knockout of a 3-5 fighter in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Baue, who scaled 153 ½-pounds, has lost every time he has gone up against a remotely familiar name.
Terence Crawford (15-0, 11 KOs) of Omaha, Nebraska will take on Andre Gorges (11-2, 6 KOs) of Windsor, Ontario, Canada by way of Baghdad, Iraq in the most competitively matched bout off the off-television undercard. Their light welterweight bout is scheduled for six or eight rounds, depending on the distance of the other preliminary bouts. Crawford, who scaled 142-pounds, has been out of action since a September eight-round decision over Angel Rios in Atlantic City. Gorges, who scaled 141-pounds, is coming in off of a twelve-round decision loss to Albert Mensah last July.
Former amateur standout Eric Flores of Inglewood, California will make his professional debut against Wilbert Mitchell (1-2) of Lake Dallas, Texas in a four-round light welterweight bout. Flores, a top amateur and former member of the Los Angeles Matadors World Series of Boxing team, weighed in at 139-pounds. Mitchell, coming in off of his lone pro win, weighed in at 137-pounds.
Ingelwood’s Anthony Flores, Eric’s brother, will also be making his pro debut against Gabriel Medina (1-0) of Hemet, California in a four-round light welterweight bout. Flores, the slightly older of the two brothers, weighed in at 140-pounds. Medina weighed in at 141-pounds. Both Flores brothers are managed by Cameron Dunkin.
In the opener, 19-year-old former amateur star Tremaine Williams of New Haven, Connecticut will turn pro against Jesse Anguiano (0-1) of San Antonio, Texas in a four-round super bantamweight bout. Williams, the 2011 National Golden Gloves Champion at 123-pounds, came in at 123 on Friday. Anguiano, who lost his debut on March 24th via decision, weighed in at 121 ½-pounds.
HBO Pay-Per-View will broadcast the three main bouts followed by the WBO Interim Light Welterweight title bout between Juan Manuel Marquez and Serhiy Fedchenko from New Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. TopRank.com will stream the preliminary bouts from Las Vegas live.
Tickets for the event, promoted by Top Rank, are available online at Ticketmaster.com
Quick Weigh-in Results:
WBA Lightweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Rios 137*
Abril 135
Light Welterweights, 10 Rounds
Alvarado 140
Herrera 140
Light Welterweights, 10 Rounds
Gesta 137
Cuero 138
Light Middleweights, 6 or 8 Rounds
Baue 153 ½
Zewski 153
Light Welterweights, 6 or 8 Rounds
Crawford 142
Gorges 141
Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Mitchell 137
Eric Flores 139
Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Medina 141
Anthony Flores 140
Super Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Anguiano 121 ½
Williams 123
*Rios overweight, vacant title on the line for Abril only
Photos courtesy Top Rank
Alvarado-Herrera & Gesta-Cuero Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
