Manny Pacquiao and Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios will go head-to-head on Nov. 23 in Macao, China, and Pac-Man will regain his old form to walk away victorious.
All of the pressure is on Pacquiao (54-5-2) given his recent bouts. He has lost two straight fights, including a sixth-round knockout at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez.
In this fight for the World Boxing Organization's International Welterweight title belt, Pac-Man will return to form and prove that he is still elite.
The 34-year-old has had more than 11 months to train since his last fight. During that time, he has had time to make the necessary adjustments.
Pac-Man used to dominate his opponents by using speed and great footwork. Against the aggressive Rios (31-1-1), Pacquiao can use his skills to his advantage.
The 5'7" star uses speed like few others. Opponents go in for the punch, and Pacquiao is fast enough to counter with a strong attack with his left hand.
Bam Bam is a powerful fighter and can use that to land some big punches in this fight. However, the 27-year-old isn't the first power fighter Pacquiao has faced. Pac-Man has taken down the likes of Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya. He knows how to fight against power fighters, and his speed will be key in this bout.
His quickness will allow him to not only win, but to win via knockout. It has been more than four years since Pacquiao has recorded a knockout.
Rios will be able to be the aggressor early on and throw as many jabs as he can. That will work in Pacquiao's favor. By letting his powerful opponent throw a lot of punches early, Pac-Man will wear down Rios.
By the middle rounds, Rios will be exhausted trying to land jabs on his opponent. Power fighters can get frustrated trying to hit a quick opponent, and Pacquiao is one of the best at wearing boxers down.
When Rios starts to tire in the middle rounds, that's when Pac-Man will take over. His experience in big fights is key. He knows when his opponents are most vulnerable and has the power to take advantage of them. His quick jabs make him tough to defend, but he is also able to pack some power behind his attacks.
This fight will have a lasting impact on Pacquiao's career. A win would show that he can still beat quality opponents. A loss, which would be his third straight, would be damaging to his legacy. The star boxer knows this and will be ready to fight.
Look for Bam Bam to wear down in the middle of the fight, allowing Pacquiao to overpower Rios in the late rounds.
*All information is via BoxRec.com
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