Brandon Rios: I'm ready to get back to the top

Former world champion Brandon Rios hosted a large contingent of media at Ten Goose Boxing Gym in Van Nuys, California Wednesday as he prepares for his ring return this Sunday, June 11 against Mexico's Aaron Herrera in the main event of a Special Edition of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes live from The Pioneer Event Center in Lancaster, California.

Televised coverage begins at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT after the Mexico vs. USA World Cup qualifier on FS1 and FOX Deportes and will feature unbeaten Mario Barrios in a 10-round super lightweight contest against Mexico's Jose Luis Rodriguez and undefeated prospect Jose Miguel Borrego squaring-off against once-beaten Kevin Watts in an eight-round super lightweight bout.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $30 and are on sale now. To purchase tickets visit the Pioneer Event Center's website: www.uavpec.com

Here is what Rios and his trainer had to say Wednesday:

BRANDON RIOS

"I'm just ready to get back to the top. I know that I have to climb the ladder and that's what I'm here for.

"When I said that I was done, I was done. Eventually though I started getting that urge again, to get on that stage and perform on TV. My wife told me that if I wanted to fight again, I had to come back dedicated.

"It's really cool to be fighting right after the Mexico vs. USA match. I'm a Mexican-American but I live in the United States so it'll be USA vs. Mexico in the ring as well when I face Herrera.

"I know that I have a very skilled, tough opponent. He's working with Juan Manuel Marquez and he's very experienced. He's faced some really tough opponents. It's going to be a good fight to get back in the ring with.

"I felt like I needed a new voice in my corner. There's nothing against (former trainer) Robert Garcia, I respect him and he got me to where I am today, but I felt like I got too used to that situation.

"I told (Rios' trainer) Ricky Funez that I wanted to come back and have him train me and thankfully he was excited to work with me. We started working really hard and we took some time to get to know each other more and more.