Should Manny Pacquiao Retire If He Loses to Brandon Rios?

Lou Catalano — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:00:38 -0400

Last week, we discussed the implications of an emphatic Manny Pacquiao win over Brandon Rios.

But what would happen if Pacquiao were to lose the fight? Would it be time for the Filipino star to hang up the gloves?

The answer really depends on how he loses.

Before the epic knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao lost a decision to Timothy Bradley that was roundly criticized by pretty much anyone who watched the fight other (than this guy). If the same thing happens again here, or even if he loses a close decision that could go either way, then he should continue fighting.

If he is able to withstand 12 rounds of Brandon Rios punching him in the face, then the effects of the Marquez fight haven’t lingered. It will further prove that his skills have eroded, but it will at least prove that the knockout he suffered was just a perfect shot fired on a bad night.

If this fight had taken place just a couple of years ago, Pacquiao probably would have stopped Rios. His speed and movement would have been too much to handle. But he's slowed down just enough that the fight is more interesting now, and tougher to call.

But a Pacquiao loss by close decision wouldn’t end his career; it would merely signify an end to his long reign as an elite fighter.

He doesn't have to be elite to sell tickets. He's a worldwide star because he's one of the more entertaining fighters to come around in recent memory, and he genuinely cares about putting on a show for fans. He'll still be able to do that and make plenty of money in the process, even if it's at a slightly diminished level.

However, if Pacquiao is knocked out again, then it's time for him to step away from the ring. The Marquez fight was one thing—he was caught on the button by one of the deadliest counterpunchers in the game. But if Rios does the same thing to him, he will have reached a point where it would be dangerous for him to continue.

When Antonio Tarver knocked out Roy Jones in their rematch in 2004—as shocking as it was to see—it wasn’t the end for Jones. The end came a few months later, when Glen Johnson took him to Snoozeville all over again. A pattern was established, one where a once-elite fighter could no longer handle the punches thrown his way.

If Pacquiao can’t stay on his feet against Rios, fighting on would be a bad idea. His defense has never been exceptional, but his incredible offensive bursts have more than made up for it. But if his once-granite chin is now suspect, then he’ll be a health risk every time he fights.

Rios can punch extremely hard, and he’ll no doubt land his share of shots on Pacquiao. We’ll be able to tell right away if Manny can handle the blows. Judging from his past fights, he should be able to take them; he took Margarito’s best and kept on going.

If he doesn’t take the punches well, it’s a clear sign that he’s too far removed from his former self to continue his career.

Money might always be an issue for Manny Pacquiao; that will happen when your assistants have assistants. He’ll probably be forced to keep boxing even long past his expiration date. He may not be there yet, but he’s obviously closing in on the end of an illustrious career.

Winning this fight simply means more huge fights for him, but losing the fight signifies something entirely different—that the end is closer than we realized. Rios will be a difficult fight; he’s not going to be an easy out for anybody at this point.

But even if Pacquiao has stepped just outside of his prime, he’s the better fighter. He’s too fast, too accurate, and he hits too hard for the plodding Rios to be able to keep up all night. But if Rios does drop and stop Pacquaio, he needs to call it a career.

Continuing would prove nothing—he’s done remarkable things and will go down as one of the best to ever fight. The only thing it would do is tarnish a legacy that has been built by punching power and sheer fury.

Manny Pacquiao may have one more great performance left in him, or perhaps he has several more. But if Brandon Rios becomes the second straight fighter to knock him out, Pacquiao’s friends and family should convince him to shut it down. If he is stopped, hopefully they’ll succeed in getting him to walk away.

Too many fighters don't turn away until it’s far too late.

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Manny Pacquiao's Fight Against Brandon Rios Must End in KO Victory

Donald Wood — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:53:17 -0400

When Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2) takes on Brandon Rios (31-1-1) November 23, at the Venetian Macao in Macau, China, the only outcome that would benefit Pacquiao will be a knockout victory over the challenger.

Anything less will be viewed as an utter failure.

After losing to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez in his last two fights—by decision and knockout respectively—Pacquiao needs to find redemption, and a convincing win over the No. 6 ranked welterweight in the world would mark the beginning of his ascension back to the top of the weight class.

Rios is no joke, and if Pac-Man doesn’t take his opponent serious, he could end up face down on the mat once again. Unlike Marquez, Rios pushes the tempo of the fight and will be matching the amount of punches that Pacquiao throws.

This is the kind of fight where Pac-Man must be as sharp defensively as he is offensively. Just like Floyd Mayweather uses his defensive prowess, Pacquiao will be looking to capitalize on the openings his opponent leaves while being aggressive and making them pay with firm counterpunches.

That doesn’t mean Pac-Man won’t be aggressive, though.

Hall of Fame trainer, Freddie Roach, told Dan Rafael of ESPN about how Pacquiao plans to get inside with Rios and do enough damage to knock him out:

Manny is definitely going to get his mojo back with this fight. Brandon Rios likes to fight in the pocket and exchange, and Manny is very good in the pocket, too. I think it'll be an exciting fight but that Manny is going to land in the pocket at some point and knock this guy out somewhere along the way. Rios likes to exchange and his style is not really difficult to figure out, so Manny's gonna hit him.

That aggressive style that Roach mentioned has earned Rios 23 career knockouts, making him one of the more dangerous fighters Pacquiao and his team could have selected for his next fight in November.

While many fans thought Pac-Man would take an easy fight to find redemption after the knockout loss to Marquez, Manny decided a challenge was needed to begin his rise to the top once again.

Pacquiao needs to dominate from the opening bell and never give Rios the chance to find his rhythm.

Using his elite quickness and power—coupled with his ability to land combinations at will with his unmatched hand speed—Pac-Man must find his way into the pocket of Rios and hit him before he has a chance to react.

Rios has the power and willingness to exchange inside that could hurt any fighter, but Pacquiao knows how to inflict heavy damage on his opponent while minimizing how much punishment he actually sustains.

Marquez knocked out Pac-Man because he was too aggressive; that won’t happen again.

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Should Manny Pacquiao Retire If He Loses to Brandon Rios?

Manny Pacquiao's Fight Against Brandon Rios Must End in KO Victory