Opening Bell: Manny Pacquiao vs Brandon Rios Set For Nov. 24
by Gautham Nagesh
That video above of an old man busting loose at a Wizards game is exactly how most boxing fans feel after finding out that Manny Pacquiao will return from his two-loss winning stream against all-action warrior Brandon Rios in Macau on November 24th.
HBO Pay Per View will broadcast the fight in the U.S., while promoter Top Rank is reportedly teaming up with Major League Baseball Advance Media to make the fight available via Internet stream to fans in China at a much lower cost. If it works, this is the kind of visionary move that has kept Top Rank boss Bob Arum on top of the fight game for the past 30 years. Asian fans can’t get enough of Pacquiao, and they could be the key to him staying lucrative far beyond his days on top.
As for the fight itself, dubbing it alluring would be an injustice. This is a surefire, 100% guaranteed barn-burner for as long as it lasts. There is no subtlety to Rios, an aggressive fighter with a taste for blood. He does only one thing in the ring: stalk his opponent until they run or stop and trade. When they do the latter, they must contend with one of the best, toughest inside fighters left in boxing.
Rios’ marketability has never been higher, even though he’s coming off his first career loss against Mike Alvarado. The loss and his disputed win over Richar Abril show Rios is vulnerable against boxers that look to move and avoid engaging. Fortunately for him, Pacquiao is not one to shirk a fight. Like Rios, the Pacman can both punch and take a shot, but he’s also much faster and brings shots from unconventional angles. It will take every ounce of Rios’ will to avoid the first knockout loss of his career, considering how easy Bam Bam is to hit.
Pacquiao has plenty to prove himself after being flattened by one marvelous right hand from Juan Manuel Marquez in his last outing. Almost no one expects Pacquiao to rebound to his previous stellar form after such a debilitating loss, particularly at 34 years of age. If his chin or conditioning aren’t at least close to their previous levels, Pacquiao may find himself struggling with the formidable Rios. The uncertainty of his condition only adds to the intrigue, as even a small slip in Pacquiao’s conditions would open the window to another grueling war.
Rios is coming up in weight, and may not be ready for such a stern test after his recent run of hard fights. But fighters with his style are ideally not long for the sport, and he has long thirsted for a shot at the top. Perhaps it’s best challenge Pacquiao and be done with it; none of us are getting any younger really, and this is easily one of the most compelling fights that can be made in boxing.
We’d love to be ringside, but unfortunately the editorial budget can’t withstand a trip to Macau. Any of the big guys need a stringer?
Venezuelan Boxing Writer Killed: It’s with great sadness we pass along the news that Venezuelan sportswriter and BoxingScene contributor Jhonny Gonzalez was shot to death on Friday, according to multiple reports. Gonzalez was shot three times in the vicinity of the headquarters of the sports daily Lider where he worked. As a member of the tribe of fight scribes and the broader international community of journalists, he will be missed.
Pascal-Bute Postponed: The battle for Montreal supremacy between Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal at light heavyweight will have to be postponed after Bute suffered an injury to his left hand last week. The fight had been scheduled for the Bell Centre in Montreal as part of an HBO doubleheader with the Carl Froch-Mikkel Kessler rematch from London. Bute’s stock has plummeted since getting stopped by Froch and barely holding on to beat fringe light heavyweight contender Denis Grachev. The Pascal fight is widely viewed as his most lucrative opportunity outside of a rematch with Froch, and as such we expect it to eventually take place.
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