The day has finally arrived as boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao makes his long awaited return against the always-aggressive Brandon Rios tonight.
Strategies have been carefully developed by the fighters’ trainers. (Main pic courtesy of HBO)
Will there be any surprise strategies tonight?
Elite trainer Freddie Roach intends for Manny to use elusiveness and speed to frustrate and outbox the slower Brandon Rios.
Conversely, world-renowned trainer Robert Garcia has developed a strategy that he hopes will force Pacquiao into fighting at close quarters, an action that would seemingly benefit his fighter, Brandon Rios.
Robert Garcia is a wise trainer, and insists he’ll have a secret weapon tonight having sought the counseling of a master strategist who happens to be his father, Eduardo Garcia.
The elder Garcia was an amateur boxer with a record of 48-2 and has trained elite level talent such as Fernando Vargas, Victor Ortiz, Mikey Garcia, and, of course, his son Robert.
And despite previous altercations with Team Garcia, hall of fame trainer Freddie Roach has tremendous respect for the senior trainer.
“I don’t fear anyone, but if I have to say who’s got the most boxing knowledge in the [Garcia] camp, it’s the father.”
Pacquiao and Garcia went head-to-head in 2010 when Manny Pacquiao defeated Antonio Margarito via a unanimous decision. Having seen Manny Pacquiao operate before, adjustments have been made this time around.
Robert believes he’s created the perfect game plan, “My dad [Eduardo Garcia] and I have put together a great game plan for Rios and we have been watching the Pacquiao tapes together.”
“That is something that everybody expects us to do [jump on Pacquiao] and we just might do that.”
We don’t know what Pacquiao has coming out but we also have to be smart. We just can’t jump in there and think we are going to be the better guy that night.” “For him, it’s do or die so we have to be ready for the best Pacquiao. We can’t go in there thinking it’s going to be easy.”
“Our game plan has turned out really good. If Brandon follows instructions and does everything we tell him to do, the sparring partners have been very helpful, so we should come out with good results.”
Brandon Rios revealed part of the strategy is to go for the knockout in similar fashion as Juan Manuel Marquez.
“I practiced the punch Marquez landed on Pacquiao. When Manny goes in, he goes in head first, and that’s why Marquez landed. I practiced that punch a lot along with other things.”
It appears Brandon and Robert have taken a page out of Juan Marquez’s playbook, having trained and developed a strategy that centers around a stronger, more aggressive Rios punishing Pacquiao.
Juan Manuel Marquez employed the services of a strength and conditioning coach, Angel Heredia, who helped make him stronger and the results were evident as he was able to score two knockdowns in his fourth bout with Pacquiao. Not to be outdone, Rios has employed the services of strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza to help improve the former’s overall physical abilities with the focus on strength.
Robert realizes his fighter is not the fastest or most agile of the two, so he hopes Brandon is the stronger.
They’ve patterned Pacquiao’s movements, feints, and attacks by watching significant amount of tape, and they intend to fight similar to Marquez while applying intelligent pressure and attempting to counter Pacquiao’s attack with strong head shots.
“Marquez demonstrated Pacquiao has a weak chin, he [Marquez] hits hard, but I hit harder,” says Rios.
Will the Marquez blueprint work?
Although Rios has a puncher’s chance, Manny is just naturally better all-around fighter .
And while he may first showcase his natural boxing superiority, PacMan can brawl effectively too.
If the fight turns into a brawl, don’t be surprised to see Pacquiao land more consistently, using his speed and quickness to good effect.
Anything can happen in boxing, and time and time again fighters have proven all it takes is one punch to secure victory, and Brandon Rios has prepared himself for just that – To end the match with one punch.
It will be a competitive match early as both fighters will look test each other from the onset but, ultimately Pacquiao’s superior skills will prove too much for Brandon. Prediction: Pacquiao by 10th round TKO
