In every sport you will see warriors go at it toe-to-toe  in their respective athletic competition. Brandon Bam Bam Rios isn’t just an  athlete who loves competition and strives to be the best, he is a rare Warrior who can  rival the best of all warriors  such as Evander Holyfield. The best warriors never gave up and not only can take a punch but have what we call in the boxing game an Iron Chin (granite chin). These rare and special gifts along with the warriors mentality often keeps him in the ring long after they should have stopped competing.

Brandon Bam Bam Rios along with his good friend and Trainer Robert Garcia have confirm the retirement of future hall of famer and once in a generation Warrior Bam Bam Rios.

Rios had a great career going undefeated the first 8 years of his career winning titles at Lightweight and Jr. Welterweight and amassing a record of 31-0-1.

Bandon Rios took on fellow undefeated star Mike Alvarado in October 2012 on HBO. It was one of those rare matchups that made everyone excited, The whole boxing Universe Tuned in for this can’t miss, fireworks fight that was almost  guaranteed to be fight of the year as soon as the contract was signed. This was when Brandon Rios was at his best, he was an  unstoppable force with dynamite in his gloves and granite in his chin and he didn’t want to box, all he wanted to do was fight. Alvarado used to being the bully in the ring, didn’t even know what hit him, he  basically got run over by an 18 wheeler as Rios won the fight by TKO in the seventh round.

Six month later, they had a rematch and Brandon Rios was exposed for the first time in his career. This time Alvarado boxed Rios touching him here and there and won a 12 round UD. Rios was the aggressor but his powerful punches where to slow for the slick boxer that night in Alvarado.

For the rest of Brandon Rios illustrious career, I believe he was at a big disadvantage. He was a true Jr. Welterweight (140) but he always fight guys  squeezing down to 147. (many times boxers chase the money because at the end of the day, you can be the biggest warrior in the world but you need to think about your future and family and learn from the cruel sport that has left many greats with nothing to show for) He not only fought boxers bigger then him, but he only fought the best in the world thus having a speed disadvantage.  Brandon Rios was only stopped twice in his entire career and that was to the great Timothy Bradley and a in-his-prime Danny Garcia who also punches with bricks in his hands. For Brandon Rios to have the amazing career he had and be that slow (compared to the other top boxers in the world) is nothing short of remarkable.

Even the great P4P champion Manny Pacquiao went the distance with Rios. Last November Bam Bam signed with Matchroom Boxing and fought Ramon Alvarez in Kansas. Alvarez was not only determined but much heavier then Rios. Rios took Alvarez’s best shots and walked right threw him to get the win by TKO in the 7th round.

In many ways boxing is a very very sad sport as you see your favorite boxer take punishment and no matter how hard he tries you know that even if he gets the victory he will have to pay a price for the rest of his life. And then a fight gets old overnight.

Last week Brandon Rios stepped into the ring for the last time to face another terrific fighter in Humberto Soto. Even at Soto’s age he was able to out Boxer the slower Rios and  soto also absorbed Rios’s shots well as he was the bigger man in the ring by at least 10 pounds. In a surprise performance by Soto, Rios lost by UD.

The sport of boxing thanks you, Brandon Bam Bam Rios for your tremendous contributions to the boxing game. You have elevated the sports to new heights and set a standard of competition rarely seem.