Manny Pacquiao’s potential foe, Brandon Rios, needs to score another win in a rematch against Mike Alvarado Saturday night to remain in contention for a lucrative fight with Pacquiao. Rios and Alvarado fought in the undercard of the Donaire-Arce fight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California last Oct. 13. Rios defeated Alvarado via knockout in the seventh round of the 10-round slug fest. No knockdown occurred but the referee stopped the fight in the seventh round to protect Alvarado from more punishment by Rios. As the main undercard of the event , the first Rios-Alvarado fight turned out to be just as exciting as the main event of the evening as the two brawlers gave everything they had in their arsenal. Rios and Alvarado were both undefeated when they fought last year. As it turned out, Alvarado suffered his first career loss after almost knocking down Rios in the action-packed fight. On Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, the two ring stars meet again in the HBO-televised rematch that could give Rios a shot at Pacauiao, provided he gives out an impressive performance. On the other hand, a win by Alvarado could trigger a third fight between them toward the end of the year or early next year. Rios and Alvarado are known for their ring warrior mentality and prefer fighting toe-to-toe. Rios said they will give the fans what they want and promised an entertaining fight. “We both go fight each other,” Rios said. “We try to get the job done the only way we know how. We can try to change it up in the gym, but once the bell rings and we get hit, we go back to doing what we know how to do. That’s the warrior mentality that comes out of us. Mike Alvarado is Mike Alvarado and Brandon Rios is Brandon Rios. We are going to give the fans what they want and we are going to give them a good show.” Promoter Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters has stated that Rios could be Pacquiao’s next opponent if he wins over Alvarado on Saturday in what he refers to as “mix and match” situation involving Pacquiao, Rios, Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley. According to Boxing Scene, Juan Manuel Marquez, who will be in Las Vegas over the weekend to watch the fight, will fly to Macao with Arum for the professional debut of top Chinese amateur boxer and Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming. The Macao card will feature WBO/WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria vs. Juan Franciscco Estrada of Mexico for Viloria’s flyweight titles. It is possible that Arum will sit down with Marquez and Pacquiao in Macao to explore a fifth fight at the Venetian Resort in Macao as the venue. Pacquiao has yet to confirm his attendance in the Macao weekend event.
