Brandon Rios to face Humberto Soto on Feb. 23

Badlefthook.com

According to a report at ESPN.com, Brandon Rios will face Humberto Soto in a veteran versus veteran matchup on Feb. 23 in Tijuana, streaming live for U.S. fans on DAZN.

Rios (35-4-1, 26 KO) is a former lightweight titleholder whose best days are behind him, but he’s still as game as they come, too. After taking about a year and a half off following a one-sided beating against Tim Bradley in late 2015, Rios, now 32, returned to action in the summer of 2017, beating Aaron Herrera by seventh round knockout in a tune-up bout.

Rios stepped up the competition again in Feb. 2018, taking a crack at Danny Garcia in a welterweight fight. He gave a great effort, but was stopped in the ninth round. He returned to the ring in Nov. 2017, beating Ramon Alvarez by stoppage in the ninth round.

Soto (68-9-2, 37 KO) is a well-traveled fighter, a former titleholder at both super featherweight and lightweight. Now 38, he’s on a three-fight win streak over lesser opposition, following a 2015 loss to Antonio Orozco.

No weight for the bout is noted in the ESPN blurb, but it likely would happen at welterweight. Rios fought Alvarez at junior middleweight, but should be able to come back down without much trouble, and Soto most recently fought at 147.

The card will also feature top flyweight prospect and former Olympian Joselito Velazquez (7-0, 6 KO).