Unbeaten American Brandon Rios has targeted a bout with Juan Manuel Marquez after both fighters won on Saturday night.
However it was far from straightforward for Rios who edged to a split-decision victory over Cuban Richard Abril.
He was unable to claim the WBA lightweight title having failed to make the weight on Friday and produced a scrappy display although he was ahead 115-113, 116-112 on two cards. The third judge saw Abril a 117-111 winner.
Rios improved to 30-0 with one drawn but this was the second time he cost himself a WBA crown by failing to make the weight. He stopped John Murray in 11 rounds last December but again had failed to top the scales at or below 135 pounds.
Rios is hoping for a shot at Marquez this summer with a step up to 140 pounds on the agenda. However his rival still holds out hope of a fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao after proving too strong for Sergey Fedchenko in Mexico City
Fighting for the first time since losing a majority decision to Pacquiao in November, he was never troubled. Two judges saw the fight 118-110 for Marquez, with the third even more emphatic at 119-109.
