November 23rd Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring against tough contender Brandon Rios. After two consecutive losses and coming off a KO loss Manny returned to the win column with a dominating performance. To describe it in one word, beating. That is exactly what Brandon Rios got saturday night, a 12 round beat down, to his credit, he remained standing. The boxing public was wondering if Manny was the same fighter after such a devastating loss, and I think he answered that question last night. Manny looked like Manny, but with a slight twist. He seemed much more content to fight more cautiously as opposed the furious pace he maintained earlier in his career, often rushing in guns blazing. I also noticed that he rarely, if ever, feinted before launching his vaunted straight left, a move that got him knocked out in his last outing against Marquez. Pacquiao's speed was clearly intact, as was his brilliant footwork and his great reflexes. All in all, I do not think he is shot or even passed his prime, just fighting a hell of a lot smarter.
As for Rios? Well, I did not give him much of a chance as he is made to order for Manny, which is probably another reason Manny looked stellar last night. The bad thing is that Rios took a beating, and a lot of punches to the head. At one point it was clear that Rios was much slower and really did not have any hope of winning the fight, I was sure that Robert Garcia would save his fighter from further punishment, but instead he sent him out again and again. For me it was sad because taking that amount of punishment will inevitably have an effect on anyone, and its not worth it. Especially when you have to land a knock out punch against a guy that you couldnt catch before you were beaten up. Shame on Robert Garcia for allowing Rios to take so much unnecessary punishment.
On a side note, Robert Garcia got under my skin in the whole gym argument fiasco. Freddie Roach politely asked Robert Garcia to leave since it was time for Pacquiao to work out, as Garcia and company were running late. Garcia immediately became defensive and disrespectful which inevitably led to a confrontation. The classless Ariza actually incited this by kicking Roach and then accusing Roach of racial slurs, which I did not hear. Incidentally Garcia who was right next to roach did not hear it either. Ariza then began mocking Roach's parkinsons disease. I respect what Garcia has done with some of his fighters, but his camp is completely classless and it showed on fight night when he allowed his fighter to take way too many hard punches to the body and head, but most of the punches landed on the head of Rios and landed flush and hard. Shame on Garcia.
As for Rios? Well, I did not give him much of a chance as he is made to order for Manny, which is probably another reason Manny looked stellar last night. The bad thing is that Rios took a beating, and a lot of punches to the head. At one point it was clear that Rios was much slower and really did not have any hope of winning the fight, I was sure that Robert Garcia would save his fighter from further punishment, but instead he sent him out again and again. For me it was sad because taking that amount of punishment will inevitably have an effect on anyone, and its not worth it. Especially when you have to land a knock out punch against a guy that you couldnt catch before you were beaten up. Shame on Robert Garcia for allowing Rios to take so much unnecessary punishment.
On a side note, Robert Garcia got under my skin in the whole gym argument fiasco. Freddie Roach politely asked Robert Garcia to leave since it was time for Pacquiao to work out, as Garcia and company were running late. Garcia immediately became defensive and disrespectful which inevitably led to a confrontation. The classless Ariza actually incited this by kicking Roach and then accusing Roach of racial slurs, which I did not hear. Incidentally Garcia who was right next to roach did not hear it either. Ariza then began mocking Roach's parkinsons disease. I respect what Garcia has done with some of his fighters, but his camp is completely classless and it showed on fight night when he allowed his fighter to take way too many hard punches to the body and head, but most of the punches landed on the head of Rios and landed flush and hard. Shame on Garcia.
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