Roger Mayweather: Pacquiao needs to beat Bradley to create interest for Floyd fight

08/01/201411/30/2013 Rob Smith

bradley777 Trainer Roger Mayweather believes that for Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s) to attract a lot of interest in a Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight in the future, he needs to defeat WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (31-0, 12 KO’s).

Roger thinks a win over Bradley will get boxing fans excited for the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout because Roger thinks that fans really like Bradley. I’m not sure if that’s actually the case, to tell you the truth. A win over Pacquiao over Bradley would say about as much as a win for Pacquiao over Brandon Rios. There are better fighters at 147 than Bradley, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he were knocked out if he were to ever face Ruslan Provodnikov again.

Manny Pacquiao: “I Am Willing To Fight Floyd. So It Is Up To Him”

08/01/201411/25/2013 Vitali Shaposhnikov

pac6838 As expected, the two names that are involuntarily intertwined forever, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are back where they belong: in people’s heads and forum boards.

Now that Pacquiao disposed on Brandon Rios, winning every single round of their fight according to most, Mayweather Jr. is being mentioned as a possible opponent sometime in 2014. Their match-up, at least in my opinion is unavoidable, and the two stepping inside the ring across each other is just a matter of time.

The question that Pacquiao vs. Rios was supposed to answer is whether Manny is still a viable competitive opponent for Mayweather Jr., but was that question really answered? Was Rios the test? According to Freddie Roach, the fight is still hot.

Left-Hook Lounge: Pacquiao that “Great” or Rios that “Bad”?, Is Pacquiao a Threat to Mayweather?, Froch “Gift” Victory?

11/25/201311/25/2013 Vivek Wallace

Alain B. (Cebu, Philippines): In the past you said that Pacquiao would give Mayweather a good run for him money. After seeing this performance, would you still say that he is a threat to Mayweather?

Vivek W. (ESB): From day one, I’ve maintained that Pacquiao’s offense would be a great threat to Mayweather, and that his ability to pepper the opponent with power shots would be a threat to anyone in the sport, and yes….that does include Floyd Mayweather. His offense was never a question. The only question about Pacquiao was his ability to handle punches. Now that we know he can, without doubt, he remains a threat to Floyd Mayweather and everyone else. Now…..that being said…..when you peel back the layers of excitement and fanboy-isms attached to this potential showdown and see it for what it is, I don’t think anyone thinking clearly can tell me that Pacquiao is the lock to win that fight.

And so we go down that road again…talks begin anew for Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao

11/25/201311/25/2013 James Slater

pac931 I can hear the groans from some fight fans already, those who have suffered enough over the games both sides have played with regards to thus far putting the stumbling blocks on making the fight the whole world (still) wants to see: Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao.

No sooner had Pac-Man put a beat down on a game but outclassed Brandon Rios, did promoter Bob Arum and Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach begin banging the drum (again) for a Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown. Arum told AFP that the fight can finally be made because “where there is a will there is a way.”

Roach went further in hyping the would be fight, stating how he believes his fighter will “overwhelm” Mayweather should the two superstars get it on.

Pacquiao has three good years left, says Roach

11/26/201311/25/2013 Kevin Chittenden

roach1 Trainer Freddie Roach thinks Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s) has found the fountain of youth following his incredibly easy win over one of Bob Arum’s Top Rank fighters former WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios (31-2-1, 23 KO’s) last Saturday night in Macao, China. The win, a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision by Pacquiao, was enough to convince Roach that Pacquiao is as good as he’s ever been and able to fight for three more years before he should hang up the gloves.

Roach said to Boxing Channel “He’s got three good years left.”

There’s a problem when a trainer starts to get ahead of himself for a fighter that is getting up there in age like the 34-year-old Pacquiao. You can’t speculate that he or anyone will be able to fight for the next 3 years because things can change rapidly in the ring from injuries and the negative affects of the ring wear and natural aging.

Manny Pacquiao Outclasses Rios in Macau

11/24/201311/24/2013 George Goddiess

Eleven months removed from his last fight, a crushing knockout, there was some doubt surrounding Manny Pacquiao’s career moving forward. Tonight in Macau, China Manny Pacquiao got the job done and won a near shutout after twelve rounds of welterweight action. Brandon Rios was facing a real tall order in Pacquiao as he went up in weight yet again to meet his best opponent to date. Despite being taller and heavier and seemingly carrying the weight well Rios just could not stylistically impose himself. The fight from round four on turned more and more into an exhibition of Pacquiao’s hand speed and his ability to create angles. A puzzled Rios was greatly limited offensively as he just could not get the geography he needed to become effective.

The first round of the fight was a very interesting round as Pacquiao attempted to shake off the cobwebs that have developed after such a long layoff. Brandon Rios fought the first round very tactically and more measured than usual. He did not come barreling in and was really doing his best to establish his jab.

Pacquiao fans breathe a sigh of relief as he shuts out Brandon Rios

11/26/201311/23/2013 Paul Strauss

Looking at the score cards wouldn’t tell you the whole story of Manny’s victory of Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios. If that was all you had to find out what happen Sunday (Saturday night here) at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort in Macau, China, then you would probably think Brandon Rios didn’t put up much of a fight. However, if you asked Manny Pacquiao, he would change your opinion, explaining that Rios was dangerous right up until the final bell.

In fact, Manny told HBO’s Max Kellerman in the post-fight interview that Bam Bam hurt him in the fifth round. Manny appeared very tired, and speaking softly gave an honest response when admitting Rios hurt him. He thought it might have been in the fifth round. Regardless, Manny added that Rios was very strong and tough. Manny said it was a hard fight for him; although, he knew he was winning, so in the twelfth round, he backed off, giving up any possible chance he might have had for a stoppage. He wasn’t about to make the mistake of getting careless again.

Pacquiao defeats Rios by lopsided decision

11/24/201311/23/2013 Rob Smith

To no no great surprise, Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KO’s) won his tune-up fight against former WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios (31-2-1, 23 KO’s) by a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision tonight in the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort, Macao, Macao S.A.R., China. Pacquiao won the WBO International welterweight title belt. The judges scored it 120-108, 119-109, 118-110.

It really wasn’t much of a fight unless your idea of a fight is to stick a slow guy with a high guard in the ring with a much faster guy. It was kind of boring because it wasn’t competitive and it reminded me a lot of the mismatch that Bob Arum set up between Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey back in 2010 except that Clottey mostly stood in one place all night while covering up with a high guard to block incoming. In contrast, Rios, using his high guard, followed Pacquiao around like a moving punching back.