Staff Picks – Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios Predictions Roundup:
On Saturday, November 23, Manny Pacquiao finally makes his long-awaited return to the ring to take on once-beaten former champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios. As we do for all of the big fights, we’ve put together a collection of our staff picks on Pacquiao vs. Rios.
So how do we think the fight will play out? Do we have anybody backing Rios to score the upset and send Pacquiao fleeing into retirement? Read on below to see for yourself.
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Scott Levinson: I just don’t see it. If Rios had 40+ rounds to get a big punch across like Marquez did, then maybe. But in this single 12-rounder, I see Pacquiao having his way and I don’t think it goes the distance. Pacquiao’s pronounced advantage in speed will be telling. Rios’ heart will serve him well, even as his face doesn’t oblige. Cuts and swelling will render Rios a diminished force by the 7th, with Pacquiao closing escrow by the 9th round.
Pacquiao via KO 9
See Scott’s full Pacquiao vs. Rios preview & prediction
Jake Emen: Rios is a tough guy, and he’s a true ring warrior. He’s also a damn good fighter, even if the story is still out on him above the Lightweight division. Ultimately though, come-forward tough guys without defense are made to order for Manny Pacquiao. Rios is in his prime, and is a fiercer specimen, but expect this to be reminiscent to Pacquiao vs. Margarito. Pacquiao may have to shake off some ring rust in the early going, and he may even be jolted by Rios somewhere in the first few rounds, but he’ll recover and dominate.
Pacquiao via Unanimous Decision
Blair Newman: This fight is a difficult one to predict because of the circumstances surrounding it, not necessarily the fighters or styles involved. Prime for prime, Pacquiao takes Rios within the distance, but Pacquiao isn’t in his prime and hasn’t been for a while. Will he recover from a huge knockout loss to his biggest rival? Will the environmental tragedy in his native Philippines affect him? These uncertainties can only open the door for Rios, the naturally slower but bigger man.
I think Pacquiao will start promisingly, but eventually Rios will close the distance, having taken the best that Pacquiao can give, and land his own shots through the middle. Rios is arguably the hardest puncher Pacquiao has faced since Miguel Cotto, and I expect Pacquiao to wear down and show his age in this fight. Rios will grind him down through relentless, merciless, constant aggression, to a late rounds stoppage.
Matt Andrzejewski: Manny Pacquiao is coming off a devastating one punch knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez. How much did that take out of him? We won’t know until he steps in the ring but I think Pacquiao still has enough in the tank to beat Brandon Rios. Rios comes straight forward with little defense and no head movement. From a stylistic stand point, this could not suit Pacquiao better. I see this fight resembling the Hatton fight and see a similar result. Pacquiao knocks Rios out late in the 2nd with a hard left hand.
Pacquiao via KO 2
Paul Ready: My heart says Rios, head says Pacquiao. Career defining fight for both men. I fancy Rios to upset the odds. He will relish boxing on the inside and trading with Pac Man. I think Bam Bam can wear him down with rib shattering body shots and uppercuts. Manny will start brighter of the two, fighting on the outside, moving in and out. But he will be vacuumed into a war and be stopped around round 8.
Rios via TKO 8
Ryan o’Hara: Both fighters come into this fight coming off tough losses. Pacquiao is going to fight smarter in this fight. Rios will try and turn this into a brawl, but he will take a beating for it. I can see Rios hitting the canvas multiple times and punching himself out in the process. I will not be surprised if we see Rios throw more punches than Manny, but Manny will be accurate and cruise to an easy unanimous decision.
Pacquiao via Unanimous Decision
Steve Bateseon: Knockouts like the devastating one which Pacquiao suffered against Marquez can take a lot out of a fighter and I will be interested to see if Pacquiao’s punch resistance has been affected. If he still has even half of his ability left then I expect to see him walk out victorious after a mid-round stoppage of the very game, but limited, Brandon Rios. Pacquiao’s movement and use of angles, as well as his punching power, should be enough to bamboozle Rios and beat him into submission, similar to his win over Cotto. Rios has power and a ton of heart but he is a one dimensional slugger and I don’t see this going past round seven.
Pacquiao via TKO 7
Pacquiao vs. Rios Predictions Tally:
- Pacquiao: 5 (3 by knockout, 2 by decision)
- Rios: 2 by knockout
Coming off that devastating KO loss, two members of our team project that Pacquiao will lose this fight by knockout. Against that, those siding with Pacquiao stick to the story that Rios, despite his own objections, is just too tailor-made for Pacquiao’s aggressive, speedy attack. But there’s some hope for the upset with his hard-punching, aggressive, tough as nails ways.
Be sure to leave your own thoughts and comments below, and thanks for checking out our staff picks on the Pacquiao vs. Rios predictions!
