By Chris Williams: Referee Bruce McTavish thinks Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KO’s) must be totally 100 percent focused on boxing for his November 23rd fight against Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KO’s) or else he could end up getting beaten by the younger, 27-year-old Rios when they meet up at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort, Macao, Macao S.A.R., China.
Focusing on the sport is important for Manny, but will it be enough to take the huge shots to the head that Rios will be nailing him with? I have my doubts.
McTavish said to the Manila Standard that Pacquiao “Has to get focused. He can’t rely on politics or religion. He can only do one thing and that’s boxing, boxing, boxing. If Pacquiao is not focused, Rios can win the fight easy, but if he’s not, Rios is in danger. But without the focus, Rios has got the weapons to beat him.”
I don’t think Pacquiao has been losing lately because he’s not focusing on boxing. His life hasn’t changed much in the last 5 years. The only difference is he’s 34 now and not in his 20s. He’s getting beaten because he’s getting older. Pacquiao could probably live at his trainer Freddie Roach’s guy and try morning to night there, and still end up in trouble if he gets nailed by a big head shot from Rios.
At this point it’s about Pacquiao’s ability to take a punch more so than his living the sport of boxing. He was knocked out viciously in the 6th round by Juan Manuel Marquez last December, and there are major questions whether Pacquiao can handle getting nailed by big shots anymore. That wasn’t the first time Marquez had knocked him down in that fight.
Pacquiao was also on his back on the canvas in the 3rd round after getting hit by a nice right hand to the head.
I do agree that this could be an easy fight for Rios, but not because Pacquiao might not be focused. He’ll be as focused as he was in his last two fights, but the difference is that Rios is a bigger puncher than Pacquiao’s last two opponents.
If you think Pacquiao had problems taking Marquez’s big right hands, just wait and see what it’s going to be like for him once Rios starts clocking him with rights and left hooks to the head. We could see Pacquiao kissing the canvas over and over again.
I think it’s a waste of time having Pacquiao drop his other outside of the ring activities. He probably needs those things in order to have peace of mind. Taking them away from him could make things worse.
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