Brandon Rios?s November 24 fight with Manny Pacquiao will be his first as a pay-per-view headliner, but a win over the Filipino would instantly establish him as one of boxing?s most marketable stars, and I believe he has the tools to make it happen.
The decision in the Timothy Bradley fight might have caused consternation but Pacquiao paid the price for trying to cruise through too many of the rounds and amid the controversy people seem to overlook that it was a decidedly below par performance from the eight division world champion.
Pacquiao did not seem to be able to fight at the same pace which he could and further vulnerabilities were exposed when he was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez a few month?s later. There is a question mark over his boxing future and Rios will feel this is the perfect time to be taking on ?Pacman?.
Rios has already won one world title although he lost it on the scales when he was unable to make the 135lb limit. He?s going to be fighting at welterweight for the first time in Macau but Pacquiao isn?t significantly larger and the lack of a weight cut will make the American even more dangerous.
Rios demonstrated in the rematch with Alvarado that he can set a high pace for 12 rounds, even if he was frustrated for much of that fight by his opponent?s lateral movement. In the first fight he showcased his tremendous heart and punching power and these assets will all be invaluable in the bout with Pacquiao.
Pacquiao still has the ability to recapture his finest form in short bursts but can he sustain it? Rios knows how to weather a storm, he showed in the first fight with Alvarado that he can take a punch, and if Pacquiao plans on fighting in sporadic bursts he?s going to struggle to stop the Texan.
After the underwhelming performance against Bradley people will be wondering whether Pacquiao still has it in him to win a decision at the age of 34. He is capable of blowing Rios away with an early onslaught but if he fails to put him away in the early rounds the tide is likely to turn in the American?s favour.
Much will depend on how Rios adapts to facing a southpaw, something he hasn?t done since very early on in his boxing career. He?s had an entire training camp to get used to sparring with partners who have the same stance as Pacquiao but it will still be interesting to see how quickly he can adjust once the real action begins.
The noises coming out of Rios? camp have been unambiguously positive. He?s taken in Pacquiao?s old strength and conditioning coach and has reportedly been looking very good, with the entire operation running smoothly.
For Pacquiao the sign have been much more worrying. Sparring partners have failed to show up, a visa for a replacement strength and conditioning coach failed to materialize and long term trainer Freddy Roach didn?t arrive until very late in the day because he was busy with Miguel Cotto.
If Pacquiao is taking this fight lightly, and there seems to be some evidence to suggest that might be the case, he?s in for a rude awakening. Rios has a granite chin, he hits hard and has got 23 KO wins in his career to date.
Nothing which Rios has achieved so far would compare to a win over Pacquiao. The stakes are sky high but after putting on two all out wars for boxing fans against Alvarado he is ready to claim his reward by beating a legend and establishing himself alongside the likes of Timothy Bradley, Adrien Broner and Floyd Mayweather as one of the sport?s elite.
