Ronny Rios scored a ten round unanimous decision over former world champion Rico Ramos in a Featherweight bout at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.
It was a lackluster fight that saw a lot of clinching but it was Rios who landed the harder blows and he won by scores of 100-90, 97-93 and 96-94.
Rios is now 20-0. Ramos is 21-2
Rios is happy with the win but felt he could do better. “I give myself only a C grade,” he said. “I knew I won it, but I didn’t win it the way I wanted. I really wanted to make a statement on SHOWTIME, but I hesitated too much in the last few rounds.
“I wanted to keep pushing forward and working the body, but he kept smothering me. The good news is I passed my first big test, took the next step in my career and hopefully will be getting a world ranking because of it. It’s a great honor to win the NABF belt, but I really wanted to look better. It’s difficult to look good against a guy with his style.”
Ramos was moving up a notch in weight and making his first start in seven months, but he did not make excuses. “Sure, I’m disappointed,” he said. “I know I could and should have done more, but give Rios credit. He got me with some really nice jabs.”
In a battle of undefeated Jr. Middleweights, Daquan Arnett scored a eight round unanimous decision over Brandon Quarles.
Quarles was very effective over the first half of the fight as he landed a couple of right hands that rocked Arnett. Arnett came on over the second half of the fight by using combinations and working the body. Quarles was docked a point by referee Ray Corona in round seven for holding.
Arnett, 155 3/4 lbs of Orlando, FL won by scores of 78-73, 77-74 and 76-75 and is now 10-0. Quarles, 153 1/2 lbs of Alexandria, VA is now 9-1-1.
“He managed to take me out of my game plan, but I proved that I could adapt. I switched to southpaw at the start of the fourth round just to give him a different look and I think that threw him off. There’s no question I won it clearly in the end.”
Quarles, who had a point deducted in the seventh for leading with his head, felt the wrong guy got his hand raised. “I felt I was out-and-out robbed,” he said. “I outworked him, threw more punches, and hurt him way more than he hurt me.
“I took him out of his game plan. He was holding my hand down the whole fight. So what happens? They take a point away from me. I’m so sure I won, I can’t even be upset.”
