A MUST-WIN FOR PACQUIAO'S REDEMPTION
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 10 Sep 2013
For almost a year now, Manny Pacquiao has not fought atop the ring. He will be up against a young and hard punching slugger in Brandon Rios. The fighting congressman knows that his November 24 clash with Rios is very critical for his future as a boxer.
"I am feeling a little pressure for this fight since I have lost my previous two. An impressive victory against Rios will raise my name again in boxing. My belief in God and training as hard as I can will help to relieve that pressure," Pacquiao said in the interview with Ben Thompson of Fight Hype.
Most of the boxing fans believed Pacquiao's career is on a decline. In order to restore the much needed respect for the once pound-for-pound king, he must win with an awesome victory, preferably no less than a knock out.
But he has not won by knockout for four years now. The last boxer he stopped was Miguel Cotto, but that was in 2009 yet.
"I need to prove I still can fight like the old Manny Pacquiao. I need to restore the public's confidence in me and my abilities. It's important that this be an impressive victory. I have already begun to visualize my fight with Rios," he added.
Freddie Roach wanted Pacquiao to retire if he losses to Rios. The loss could signal the end of an era in Philippine boxing history. A defeat would mean the fall of the greatest boxer the continent of Asia ever produced. All the pressures in the whole world will be on Pacquiao to deliver a must-win situation.
Pacquiao is the favorite to win the fight with still more than two months to go. But in his two losses leading to the Rios fight, he was the overwhelming favorite. The defeat to Timothy Bradley was the most controversial while the fall to Juan Manuel Marquez was the most devastating.
Rios is still too young at 27-years old and lost only once to Mike Alvarado. The fight emerged as the Fight of the Year in 2012 . This was during their rematch lat June where Rios lost by unanimous decision. In their first fight Rios scored a 7th round stoppage of Alvarado.
Assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez talked to Asian Correspondent: ?We have the advantage in speed. Rios fights straight ahead.? Pacquiao is set to absorb a lot of punches from the younger American. He should pack a lot of muscle come fight night. ?What is important is that he is not underweight,? Fernandez added.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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