PACQUIAO-RIOS BIG BET FOR FIGHT OF THE YEAR
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 07 Nov 2013
BOTH Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios have yet to pack their bags for Macau, but their Nov. 24 bout has been listed as lead candidate for fight of the year.
The fight may not out-slug Ruslan Provodnikov?s savage conquest of Mike Alvarado in both drama and daring.
But there are many who don?t expect the fight to be decided by the ringside judges.
**
One of them is four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr., who will be at ringside to do the stellar bout for HBO.
A sucker for great action-packed fights, Jones predicts an early finish, with the combatants throwing patented bombs at each other, ?If Pacquiao drops Rios, that won?t come as a surprise,? Jones said. ?But if Pacquiao scores a knockdown but fails to finish Rios, he?s gonna have his hands full.?
**
Anyway, to those who thought the noontime slugout in Macau on Nov. 24 won?t generate enough pay-per-view sales because it?s being staged away from the United States, Pacquiao?s drawing power may yet prove the doubters wrong.
The Pacman is still great like ready available juicy hot dog on the side streets of New York.
This was stressed by a vacationing Filipino columnist of the famous Balita, who?s visiting with his daughter in the U.S.A
**
?My brother, I am now in the land of Uncle Sam,? Bert de Guzman, award-winning Tagalog poet, explained in a text message yesterday. ?I?ve asked taxi drivers here around Queens, New York, they were unanimous in picking Pacquiao over Rios, a Mexican-American.?
Brother Bert, a college chum, went on to detail the reason behind the strong preference for Pacquiao: ?Sabi nila matapang si Manny, unlike Bradley and Mayweather who kept running away during a fight.?
It was added Pacquiao has remained a hot favorite because of his grim toe-to-toe style of fighting.
**
Helping to whet the appetite of hot-blooded fans is the continued claim by Pacquiao?s trainer, Freddie Roach, who has been insisting a knockout win--the earlier the better--is the sole option for his prized warrior.
Roach insisted Rios cannot remain on his feet past round six.
?This is Manny at his original best, that knockout loss to Marquez last year is totally gone, nowhere in his system,? Roach boasted.
Rios retorted this is his time, and he?s going to Macau to claim full stardom.
Pacquiao has insisted this is still his time, although he has got score a redeeming win in order to regain his star.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 16 Feb 2026IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca faces tough competition in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 16 Feb 2026Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday
By Chris Carlson, Sun, 15 Feb 2026“The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Feb 2026Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 14 Feb 2026WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 14 Feb 2026BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN"
Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
Fri, 13 Feb 20263 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Fri, 13 Feb 2026Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
Thu, 12 Feb 2026