MANILA, Philippines - When it's over, it's over.
That's what Brandon Rios verbalized at the post-fight press conference after his ninth round technical knockout loss to Tim Bradley at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Sunday, November 8 (Manila time).
But in all honesty, he likely realized it several minutes earlier, as he was absorbing body shots from Bradley. Rios had the body language of a fighter who no longer wanted to get punched for a living while Bradley fought as if he still had much to prove in the ring now, and for years to come.
Rios (33-3-1, 24 knockouts) was knocked down twice in round 9 at the hands of Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) before the referee halted the fight at the 2:49 mark. The iron-chinned Rios had been knocked down earlier in his career but had never previously been stopped in a fight.
"When it's time to hang em up, it's time to hang em up. Thank you guys," Rios said following the clash between former Manny Pacquiao foes.
If Rios, 29, sticks to his retirement, he leaves behind an 11-year career that was highlighted by a WBA lightweight title run and an exciting trilogy with Mike Alvarado. In later years, Rios struggled to make weight for fights and lost in one-sided fashion to Pacquiao and Bradley.
Bradley, 32, made the first successful defense of his newly reacquired WBO welterweight title, and was impressive in his debut with new trainer Teddy Atlas, who replaced his long-time coach Joel Diaz.
With the win, Bradley makes a case for a third fight with Pacquiao, who says his April 9 bout against an opponent to be named will be his last fight. Bradley won a controversial decision in their first fight in 2012 before Pacquiao avenged the loss in a 2014 rematch. – Rappler.com