BRADLEY PICKS PACQUIAO OVER RIOS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 27 Aug 2013
Manny Pacquiao absorbed two straight setbacks in his professional career last year and has not returned to the ring until November 24 against Brandon Rios in Macau, China. The two boxers who inflected Pacquiao his latest losses, Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, will face each other on October 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
While he was busy preparing for the match where he was considered as the underdog, Bradley took time to pick his former opponent Pacquiao as the favorite to win over his American foe. He believed that the fighting congressman will bounce back from his downfall and will come out victorious in an action-packed confrontation.
"I definitely will pick Pacquiao in this fight. I think he has a lot left in the tank. I think his speed, his movement, his power that he carries; I think he'll be able to display it against Brandon Rios, because, Brandon Rios is straight forward. His head don't move to the side," Bradley was quoted by BoxingScene.
He praised Rios for his ability to fight. But pointed out his disadvantage in size against the more experienced Pacquiao. The former pound-for-pound king fought two to three times a year prior to his two losses. Bradley won by split decision in one of the most controversial decisions in a world championship fight.
"You know, Brandon Rios is a very tough opponent. He comes to fight. If you really know Manny Pacquiao, guys who come straight at him, he does his best work when guys come straight at him," Bradley said. "Brandon Rios is a smaller guy. They probably are the same size, but he's coming up from 135 to 140 and now 147. I don't know if the weight is suitable for him to come in at 147."
The eight-division world champion has started training with assistant coach and boyhood friend Buboy Frenandez in his hometown in General Santos City. Coach Freddie Roach will take over the training after the fight of his other boxer-trainee Miguel Cotto who will face Delvin Rodriguez in Florida in October 5.
Pacquiao has a pro record of 54 wins with five defeats and two draws and 38 wins by knockout. While Rios garnered 31 wins with one loss and one draw and 23 wins by knockout.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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