Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) will step into the ring this weekend for the first time since his brutal knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez last December.
For the reeling Pac-Man, it'll likely either be redemption or retirement after Saturday night's clash with American challenger Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KOs). Having lost two straight fights for the first time ever, the Filipino superstar needs a convincing victory now more than ever.
Meanwhile, Rios will be faced with the taller task of shocking the world.
With the stage set for the final marquee bout of 2013, let's take a closer look at the top storylines you should be following ahead of Pacquiao vs. Rios.
Pre-Fight Scuffle Between Camps
There's typically tons of trash talking in the lead-up to a big-time fight, but rarely do two fighters or their camps get physical before stepping into the ring.
But that's what happened Wednesday in Macao, as tensions between the two fighters' respective camps reached a boiling point. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach was in the middle of the scuffle and was kicked in the stomach by Rios' strength coach Alex Ariza after asking his camp to clear the gym so Pacquiao could train.
Warning: Below video contains NSFW language.
Words were exchanged during the fracas, but security intervened in time to prevent an all-out brawl from breaking out.
Although the incident is unlikely to have an impact on what takes place inside the ring this weekend, it could be a sign of things to come at the weigh-in or perhaps even after the fight.
Pacquiao at a Crossroads
Both fighters have a ton riding on this weekend's bout, especially Pacquiao, who is currently in the midst of the longest losing streak of his career. And at 34, the overwhelming belief is that a third straight defeat would send Pac-Man into retirement.
Roach has even admitted that he would be the first to tell Pacquiao to call it quits if he struggles vs. Rios.
Unlike Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, Rios is seen as the perfect punching bag for a slumping Pacquiao.
Rios doesn't possess a ton of hand or foot speed, and his defensive movement is lackluster at best. The majority opinion is that Pac-Man is better off walking away from the sport if he cannot outlast a fighter of Rios' caliber this weekend.
Rios Facing Slim Odds
As already mentioned, almost no one is giving Rios much of a chance in this fight. His resume pales in comparison to Pacquiao's, and his toughness is probably the best thing he has going for him.
Rios recently said that he feels like some are treating him like a "joke" and expecting him to be the "victim" this weekend, per Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole:
They're treating me like I'm some sort of joke and that I'm just showing up to be the victim for Manny Pacquiao. I'm nobody's tune-up fight and they're going to find that out soon enough.
Rios is coming off the first and only loss of his professional career and boasts 23 knockout victories, so he's certainly capable of damaging Pacquiao and springing an upset. However, possible and likely are two very different concepts.
The role of underdog will be played by Rios this weekend, and that's something to watch for once the bell rings.
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