The possible Alvarez-Rios fight surfaced when Top Rank promoter Bob Arum talked about possible match ups for post-Bradley-Rios fight which is happening next weekend.
“If Canelo beats Cotto, I’ve talked to (Alvarez promoter) Oscar (De La Hoya) about the winner of Bradley-Rios fighting Canelo, and he loves it,” Arum told ESPN.
While Bradley also salivates a lucrative PPV fight against Alvarez, a Rios-Alvarez fight would be easier to promote than a Bradley-Alvarez fight.
Rios is a known brawler and boxing fans love to see him in the ring with superior foes. While he was dominated by Manny Pacquiao in their fight in Macau, China last Nov. 24 2011, Rios impressed the crowd with his ability to withstand Pacquiao’s relentless attacks.
Rios’ trainer Robert Garcia is confident Rios will beat Bradley on Nov. 7 and while he wants Alavarez for Rios’ next fight, he is also entertaining the idea of a possible Rios-Crawford fight down the road.
“This is such an important fight,” Robert Garcia, Rios’ trainer, said on Tuesday at Rios’ media workout. “Win this, and we can fight (Terence) Crawford or the winner of Canelo versus Cotto. We will listen to (manager) Cameron Dunkin, who will tell us what works best. We expect to beat Bradley, win the title and move on,” Garcia said.
Rios (32-2-1, 23 KOs) is coming off a TKO win against Mike Alvarado in a rematch early this year while Bradley (32-1-1, 12 KOs) barely survived a last minute attack by Jessie Vargas last June 27 at the Stubhub Center, Carson California to win the WBO welterweight title.
