Moments ago at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Richard Abril backed up all of his pre-fight smack talk and appeared to have scored a relatively easy unanimous decision, putting the first blemish on the undefeated record of former lightweight champion Brandon Rios. However, two of the judges in attendance must have been watching a totally difference fight as they saw fit to score the bout in favor of Rios, who was thoroughly dominated over the course of 12 rounds. Relive all the action in FightHype's round-by-round results.
ROUND 1
Abril comes out looking to establish his jab. Right to the body gets in for Abril. Right upstairs lands for Abril. Rios patiently stalking and has yet to throw a punch 1 minute into the round. Abril staying on the outside looking to keep his distance. Right to the body lands for Abril. Rios unable to get inside the reach so far. Jab lands for Abril. Right to the body lands for Abril. Rios gets in a left to the body. Straight right lands upstairs for Rios. Left to the body again for Rios, but he eats a right from Abril. Round to Abril.
Rios 9 Abril 10
ROUND 2
Abril fires his jab. Rios tries to rough him up on the inside. Right hand gets in for Abril. Nice uppercut lands for Rios. Rios digs to the body. Abril gets in some shots to the body. Nice 1-2 to the body and a right upstairs lands for Abril. Right to the body for Abril. Rios lands some shots on the inside. Another solid body shot lands for Abril. Rios misses with some wide punches. Rios gets in a left upstairs. Right to the body and a right upstairs lands for Abril. One more right hand upstairs lands for Abril. Round to Abril.
Rios 18 Abril 20
ROUND 3
Abril jabs to the body. Short left hook lands for Abril. Right hand upstairs lands for Abril. Rios digs a shot to the body. Left upstairs lands for Rios. Jab to the body lands for Abril. Rios making it rough on the inside. Short right lands for Abril. Rios lands some more body shots. Quick combo and a right hand lands for Abril. Rios closing that distance and digging to the body. Body shot lands for Abril. Short right lands for Rios. Nice uppercut lands for Rios. Overhand right lands for Abril. Close round, but I give it to Rios.
Rios 28 Abril 29
ROUND 4
Slapping overhand right from Abril is blocked. Rios lands to the body. Nice right hand lands for Abril. Right to the body lands for Abril. Another nice right hand lands for Abril. Rios roughs him up on the inside. They clinch. Abril flicking the jab out. Another right hand lands for Abril. Rios lands a couple of left hooks upstairs. Right to the body lands for Abril. Round to Abril.
Rios 37 Abril 39
ROUND 5
Abril doubling up and landing that jab. Right hand down the middle lands for Abril. Left hooks from Rios are blocked. Quick combo gets in for Abril. Short right upstairs lands for Abril. Rios just plodding forward and getting outgunned. Rios tries to work him on the inside, but Abril showing some good defense. 1-2 lands for Abril. Rios digs to the body. Stiff left hand from Abril snaps the head back of Rios. 1-2 lands for Abril, who smiles at Rios. Uppercut lands for Abril. They trade jabs. Round to Abril.
Rios 46 Abril 49
ROUND 6
Jab lands for Abril. Right to the body lands for Abril. Short punches from Rios are blocked on the inside. Abril just measuring Rios with his jab, looking to drop that right on him. Uppercut lands for Abril. Right hand lands for Abril. Another uppercut lands for Abril. Rios getting worked. Now Rios gets in a couple of left hands upstairs. Counter right lands for Abril. 1-2 from Abril backs Rios up. Abril just dropping 1-2's on him from the outside. Rios not landing much on him. Round to Abril.
Rios 55 Abril 59
ROUND 7
Abril continues to stick the jab in his face and smother the punches of Rios on the inside. Right hand lands for Abril. The wide punches of Rios are being blocked. Another right lands for Abril. Jab lands for Abril. Short right lands for Abril. Left hook lands for Abril. Rios looks so confused in there. Uppercut lands for Abril. 1-2 from Abril and he ties Rios up. The referee gives him a warning for holding. Round to Abril.
Rios 64 Abril 69
ROUND 8
Rios continues to keep his distance, jabbing and moving on the outside. Rios tries to work him on the inside, but his punches are being blocked and smothered. Overhand right lands for Abril. Rios gets in a left. Chopping right lands for Abril. Rios gets in a labored left. Quick combo lands for Abril. Rios digs to the body. Another overhand right gets in for Abril. Chopping right lands for Abril. Round to Rios.
Rios 74 Abril 78
ROUND 9
More of the same. Right hand lands for Abril. Rios digs to the body. Left hand gets in for Rios. Short uppercut lands for Abril. 1-2 lands for Abril. Right hand lands for Abril. Rios looking sluggish in there. Abril continues to avoid the wide punches of Rios. Abril pepper him with a combo. Round to Abril.
Rios 83 Abril 88
ROUND 10
1-2 lands for Abril. Rios digs to the body. Abril peppers him with a combo. 1-2 gets in for Rios. Rios digs to the body. Short left hook lands for Abril. Jab lands for Abril. Rios getting frustrated. Jab lands for Abril. Short left hook lands for Abril. Rios gets in a left of his own. Short right lands for Abril, who is completely controlling Rios on the inside with his Mayweather-esque defense. Round to Abril.
Rios 92 Abril 98
ROUND 11
Left hook lands for Abril. 1-2 lands for Abril. Rios just following; his punches have little steam on them. Short left hook lands for Abril. Another. Left to the body lands for Abril. Rios digs to the body. Left hook lands for Abril. Rios misses with a wild left hook. Nice uppercut lands for Abril. Left to the body and a right upstairs lands for Abril. Rios tries to work him on the inside. Rios gets in a left hook upstairs. Nice 1-2 lands for Abril and he smiles. Rios misses again with a lunging left. Round to Abril.
Rios 101 Abril 108
ROUND 12
Right hand lands for Abril. Quick 1-2 lands for Abril. Rios works the body. Jab lands for Abril. Rios digs to the body. Short right lands for Abril. Left hook lands for Abril. Right hand lands for Abril. Rios gets in a left. Uppercut and a left lands for Rios. Quick combo lands for Abril. Right hand lands for Abril. They trade lefts. Hard right lands for Abril. Round to Abril.
Rios 110 Abril 118
Official judges scorecards: 117-111 (Abril), 116-112 (Rios), 115-113 (Rios)
THE WINNER BY SPLIT DECISION...BRANDON RIOS
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