By Rick Reeno
Lightweight contender Richard Abril (17-2-1, KOs) is not looking past Brandon Rios (29-0-1, 22KOs), but he expects to win - and then he intends to move forward to a July fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Rios vs. Abril takes place this Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, as part of a split-site HBO/Top Rank pay-per-view. The main event, which takes place in Mexico City, will feature Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Sergey Fedchenko for the WBO's interim title at 140-pounds.
If Rios and Marquez are both victorious on Saturday night, Top Rank will attempt to match them on July 14th at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Of course, Abril doesn't expect that fight to take place.
"I want to tell Brandon Rios that I'm here and I'm not afraid of him. Brandon Rios is not a real Mexican. That's why he talks so much sh*t. He's only 50% Mexican," Abril said.
"When I saw him in Los Angeles, he looked nervous. He was trying to push me at my stomach. He didn't want to push me from the chest. That fight [with Marquez] is for me. That's my date. After I beat Brandon Rios, I'll fight Marquez in July. We know what Rios is going to bring. I'm better than him and I'm going to win."
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