Roger Mayweather will be the first person to tell you that?s he?s not terribly familiar with Manny Pacquiao?s Nov. 23 opponent, Brandon Rios.
When asked about for his thought on the Pacquiao-Rios per view clash, Mayweather needed a brief description of Rios? qualities as a fighter before diving in with some feedback.
When advised that the Kansas native possesses grit, fortitude, and a solid body attack, Roger seemed to feel that it?s the kind of fight that Pacquiao needs at this point.
?They gave a good fight for him then,? Mayweather stated.
?I don?t know if he can beat him or not, but if the guy is tough and he brings it to him; [Rios] may get a chance to whoop his *ss,? Roger added, seeming to flip the script a bit. ?Because he?s been off for a while too.?
Pacquiao last graced the ring as a professional eleven months ago when he was stopped in chilling fashion in the sixth round of his firefight with Mexico City?s Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas.
While certain insiders feel that a break from the sport was a plus given such a drastic setback, Mayweather doesn?t see an extended hiatus working towards the Filipino star?s favor.
?Layoffs don?t help you when you?re getting older,? Mayweather added. ?Layoffs hurt you. He got knocked out, that?s one thing. So that?s probably better for him. But layoffs don?t help. The more you lay off, it challenges the talent that you have. It makes you wonder about yourself.?
Roger recounted how a small gap of inactivity before his rematch with Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. in May of 1989 had a negative effect on him.
?It affected me, because I wasn?t? active,? Mayweather said. ?I wasn?t active and I wasn?t? being hit. Anytime you?ve been laid off a year and you got two months to prepare for a fight, your confidence is going to f*ck with you. Until you start to do something, it?s going to f*ck with you. That?s part of boxing.?
A two-time world champion at 130 and 140 pounds during his fighting days, Mayweather can relate to Pacquiao?s loss to Marquez given the fact that he suffered six stoppage defeats of his own.
Mayweather?s first knockout loss came in the first round against Rocky Lockridge in Feb. of 1984 and he remembered vividly how he was able to bounce back.
?I said to myself ?I?ve got to overcome this sh*t,?? Mayweather explained. ?If I can?t overcome it, then I?m done anyways. So I wind up overcoming it. And I realized I can still fight.?
