Styles make the fight. There isn't a more truthful adage in sports. In boxing, the right mix of styles can make two marginal fighters look great. One very clear example is the epic Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward trilogy.
Neither Gatti or Ward were great fighters, but because their styles married together so well, they produced amazing fights. Boxing fans may not have quite as perfect of a match with the Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios bout in Macau on Saturday, but both men bring an action-packed style.
Offense
Pacquiao the Swarmer
Few fighters in the history of the sport have been gifted with the speed, tenacity and power that Pacquiao possesses. At his best, the southpaw applies constant pressure and throws dangerous, power shots from every imaginable angle.
Pacquiao rarely uses a jab, but he possesses such hand speed that allows him to hook with the velocity of a jab, while maintaining power.
Rios the Stalker
Though he doesn't have Pacquiao's speed, Rios still applies constant pressure. He relies on hard power shots in exchanges to weaken his opponent. His uppercut is one of his best punches, and it lands with a thud.
Rios has a puncher's chance against just about any fighter willing to stand in front of him.
Defense
Defense? What's That?
Pacquiao's best defense is mounting even more offense. This trait is what makes him such a fan favorite, but it is also his Achilles' heel. Most fighters don't have the strength and timing to make him pay for his mad dashes. However, when he is caught, this is the result.
Rios isn't much better in this regard. He doesn't move his head much, but he does have a sturdy beard. It takes quite a wallop to rock him, but then again, he's never been in the ring with a puncher like Pacquiao.
Pacquiao's Intangibles
Is Pacquiao Damaged Goods?
After suffering such a devastating KO loss, there will always be questions as to how Pacquiao will respond mentally. Will it be easier to drop him now? All of these things will not only be on the minds of those in the boxing community, but it could very well be on Pacquiao's mind as well.
His mental state in this fight is as important as his speed and power.
Has Rios Been Exposed?
Rios has some similarities to Gatti. The punching power, chin and in-ring will is comparable. Like Gatti, speedy boxers seem to give him fits. If Pacquiao chooses to show his speed advantage, he could make this a terribly one-sided fight.
Mike Alvarado out-boxed Rios in his last fight, and he doesn't possess a fraction of the physical gifts Pacquiao does.
Because of this, the level of competitiveness in this fight is up to Pacquiao. If he wants it to be a war and allow Rios a chance to land something big, he'll stand in a phone booth and trade. If he wants to fight the smart fight, he can easily outbox Rios and stop him in the sixth or seventh round.
If history is any indication, Pacquiao is going to give Rios a chance by standing and trading. Fans will thank him for it, but he may not be happy with the result.
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