Pacquiao vs. Rios: Keys That Will Dictate the Outcome of Welterweight Battle
Manny Pacquiao is one of boxing’s greatest fighters, but he’s coming off back-to-back losses and is at a crossroads in his career. Brandon Rios, on the other hand, is just at the beginning of his career and is trying to prove that he’s more than just a punching bag.
With so much on the line for both fighters, let’s take a look at the factors that will determine which boxer comes out on top.
Spacing
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The battle of spacing will have a large impact on the fight. Both men throw a ton of punches, but Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios likes to keep the distance between him and his opponent to a minimum where he can throw punch after punch.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, uses his speed and footwork to create different angles from which to launch his onslaught of punches. If he can keep Rios moving and at a distance, he’ll be able to use his speed to his advantage.
Rios’ best chance at the upset will come if he can make the fight a short-range battle, so it will be important for him to close the distance without leaving himself vulnerable.
Defense
Defense will take a backseat in this fight because both boxers are so aggressive, but defense will determine the winner.
Both Rios and Pacquiao throw an inordinate number of punches in their fights, and they are in the top 10 of total punches thrown per round according to CompuBox.com.
| Manny Pacquiao | 69 (8) | 20 (3) |
| Brandon Rios | 74 (4) | 21 (2) |
They are both so aggressive, so it should be an entertaining bout, but the winner will be the one who can avoid more punches.
In this regard, Rios may need to rethink his strategy a little bit. He has a tendency to walk through punches in order to set up his own flurries, but he may not be able to take many of Pac Man’s power punches.
In Pacquiao’s last fight, we were reminded that all it takes is one punch to end a fight. Who will be able to protect themselves the longest? The answer to that question will likely be the winner of the battle.
War of Attrition
With both fighters throwing so many punches, stamina will be an enormous factor. Arms will get heavy and footwork will slow down as the fight progresses.
If the match gets into the later rounds, fatigue will play a role. At 35 years old, many have questioned whether Pacquiao is the same athlete of his earlier days. We will find out the answer, as this will be a slugfest filled with vicious combinations and devastating counter-punches.
Defense will come at a premium since both men have a propensity to leave themselves open to attack. Whichever fighter can maintain his energy and strength the longest will come out on top.
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