Is Manny Pacquiao Still Hungry?

By Boxing News - 11/06/2013 - Comments

pac3 (2)by Alon Calinao Dy: Manny Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, is preparing well for his upcoming battle against the brawler Brandon “Bam-Bam” Rios in Macau, China on November 23, 2013.

Rios, the former WBO light welterweight title-holder, was annoyed of some reports that he is going to be a punching bag for the return of the Filipino boxer icon. In one of the interviews with the sweetscience he said “If Manny Pacquiao feels he has an advantage, he will change his way of thinking, awww man, I remember when Juan Manuel Marquez hit me like this!” Also, some die hard Rios fans said, “Pacquiao will suffer a bad luck in November.”

There’s no doubt Rios will make the fight harder for Pacquiao than his American arch rival Timothy Bradley. He’s even confident now for having Alex Ariza, Pacquiao’s former conditioning coach, on his team. Ariza believed Rios will win the bout. He knew the flaws of his previous prodigy and saw the Philippine boxing hero as an aging fighter.

However, coach Freddie Roach, the trainer of Pacquiao said “the fight will not go the full distance. There would be a knockout inside eight rounds.” But Rios told he would knock Pacquiao out before the twelve rounds. Pacquiao then reassured his boxing fans around the world that he will train hard for this fight. He believed Rios is young and hunger for fame and recognition, but his power and speed are still there. He has learned his lessons from his last opponents.

If Pacquiao wins against Rios this November, he can fight either Bradley or Marquez. But Marquez stated he won’t fight Pacquiao anymore. I think the fear of losing again to Pacquiao is now tormenting Marquez. It’s really hard for him to accept some defeats.

Also, there’s a big possibility that Pacquiao-Mayweather, Jr. fight is going to happen in 2014. This of course depends on the performance of the Filipino superstar if he’s still hunger for victory. If he erases the doubts from all his critics, then the talk for a match between Pacquiao and Mayweather, Jr. will be a hot topic again for everyone.

But for now, Pacquiao should focus more in boxing than in any extra curricular activities. He should also send a clear message to everyone in the sweet science that he is still a pound-for pound king in the world. He should pulverize all his combatants in order to redeem himself from a knockout loss last year.

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