Bradley knocks out Rios, keeps welterweight title
Timothy Bradley is one of the top boxers in the sport, but he’s known for taking big shots and having fights come down to the last round.
Renowned trainer Teddy Atlas made sure the punishment stopped for Bradley.
The new-look Bradley cruised to a 9th-round knockout victory against Brandon Rios at the Thomas and Mack Center on Saturday to retain the World Boxing Organization welterweight championship.
Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) knocked down Rios (33-3-1, 23 KOs) with a devastating a body shot in the ninth. Rios managed to get up, but was quickly dropped again before the referee called the fight.
The 32-year-old Bradley fired his former trainer Joel Diaz in late August before turning to Atlas, who’s also an analyst for ESPN.
The switch paid dividends for Bradley who displayed speed and killer combinations. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said this is the best Bradley he’s ever seen.
A sluggish Rios, who struggled to make the 147 weight requirement, made things easier for Bradley. Rios came out aggressive in the first four rounds, but didn’t manage much in the later rounds.
The 29-year-old Rios plans to retire.
“The better man won,” Rios said. “I think I’m done.”
Earlier in the Bradley-Rios card, Ukrainian superstar Vasyl Lomachenko knocked out Mexico’s Romulo Koasicha in the 10th round.
Lomachenko dominated Koasicha with quick combos before dropping him to one knee in the 10th to force the referee to stop the fight.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist displayed the boxing skills that has many pundits predicting stardom for the Ukrainian in the featherweight division.
