Though they are easily two of the biggest names in boxing, Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios will enter their upcoming bout riding losses. Pacquiao - who posts a career record of 54-5-2, 38 KO - hopes to turn around the worst stretch of his stellar career with a win at The Venetian Macao in China this weekend. Looking to avoid the first three-match losing streak in a career that includes high profile victories over Hector Velazquez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley, the 34-year-old will need everything he has in the tank when he takes on a fighter who only has one loss on his resume.
The 5'8" Rios, who hails from Oxnard, California, holds a career record of 31-1-1 with 23 knockouts. Coming off a loss against Mike Alvarado in a rematch bout after previously taking down his fellow American, the 27-year-old is completely confident heading into the Pacquiao fight. Looking to earn the WBO International Welterweight title, Rios says that he is full of confidence because it is his time to shine. He also notes that utilizing the skills he learned from his father growing up will also be a major part of his mindset once he's inside the ropes against one of the best fighters in the sport.
"It's my time now," he said recently. "I'm not getting any younger, so why not take the opportunity. I've been fighting all my life, 20 years, since I was eight years old. If you're not ready to jump the ship and take on the next level, then you shouldn't be in the ring. I don't think I should be holding back now. My dad had to work hard. But all that work, all that dedication, all that wanting to get out of the ghetto, to get out from the problems, to get away from stressing about living day-to-day, check-to-check, that helped me a lot."
"My dad supports me 100 percent," Rios continued. "No matter what I do, he will support me. When I won my first world title, he was there with me. Now I'm in the biggest fight of my life and he's going to be there with me. It's always a blessing to see my father with me because he deserves it as much as I do."
While Rios is full of confidence, Manny Pacquiao believes he'll be able to end his recent skid after dropping consecutive bouts to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez. Looking to recapture the form that put him atop the boxing world as the best pound-for-pound fighter around, Pacquiao believes his fortunes will change against his 27-year-old opponent.
"He's hungry after the year off, he's anxious to get in the ring and he's anxious to show the world he's still an elite fighter," trainer Freddie Roach said. "The best way to do that is to knock Brandon Rios out, we both know that, and I have stressed that to him. Initially I didn't think the fight would go six rounds, and after the way he's worked out, I don't think it will go four. Rios is a tough guy, and tough guys don't win fights, good boxers win fights."
"The more I watch him on tape, the worse he gets," Roach continued. "We will box him, and the knockout will come with Manny's hand speed and combinations and Rios not having a good defense. One thing we know is that Rios will fight back, and that's our big advantage because Manny is a beautiful counter-puncher and we've been working quite a bit on that in the gym."
Prediction
Rios and Pacquiao are set to meet on Saturday, November 23 at The Venetian Macao in Macau, China. Despite the fact that Rios stands about an inch and a half taller than Pacquiao and has a slight reach advantage, Pac-Man is still too talented to drop three-straight fights. This bout will certainly be one worth watching and it may even go the distance but with all his previous success, Pacquiao will reign supreme when he takes down the extremely talented Brandon Rios, who won't be able to stay patient against the 34-year-old.
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