Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios: Biggest Key to Victory for Both Fighters

Boxing fans are in for a treat this Saturday night when legendary fighter Manny Pacquiao takes on Brandon Rios at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian Resort in Macao, China. Both boxers are known for their aggressive styles, which means this upcoming fight will be full of action from start to finish. 

"Bam Bam" Rios also enters this fight having suffered defeat in his previous fight. In a rematch with Mike Alvarado, who was knocked out in the seventh round in their previous bout, Rios lost by way of unanimous decision after both fighters knocked the hell out of one another for 12 rounds. 

Rios isn't nearly as accomplished as Pacquiao, but after losing his last two fights, Pac-Man must do what all fighters do in such circumstances and prove he's worthy of tougher competition. 

Pacquiao's loss to Timothy Bradley was highly controversial. You'd be hard-pressed to find a genuine boxing expert who doesn't think Pac-Man was jobbed by the refs in that fight. However, nobody can deny the beating he took in his next fight against Juan Manuel Marquez.

After suffering two losses in a row, Pacquiao doesn't have any more room for error. He must defeat Rios  Saturday night in China to keep his Hall of Fame career going, and he should be able to get the job done.

Here's a look at what both fighters must do in order to come away with the victory Saturday. 

Brandon Rios: Relentless Attack

Rios is a top contender for a reason. He's only lost one previous bout, and he's earned knockouts in 23 of his 31 career wins. His power has been the catalyst for his success. 

One thing Rios isn't, however, is a defensive boxer.

Lacking the foot speed and defensive mentality to outbox technicians, Rios has long utilized a punch-first approach, and he must continue to do so in this upcoming fight against Pacquiao, who is much quicker, much more technically sound and much more experienced.

He can't allow Pacquiao to dictate the pace or direction of the fight. The only way Bam Bam comes away with a win this Saturday is if he overwhelms Pac-Man with punches, forcing the legendary boxer to go on the defensive, which isn't something he's comfortable doing. 

Manny Pacquiao: Boxing, not Brawling

Getting into a brawl with Rios would be bad for Pacquaio's health. 

Both fighters have a tendency to forgo caution in favor of aggression, but Pac-Man would be wise to take a more scientific approach against Rios Saturday.

He must box rather than brawl. 

Pacquiao's quickness and speed far surpass what Rios brings to the table. He must utilize those attributes to maneuver around Rios' relentless attack to counter said attack rather than look for the first punch in every encounter.

Though caution isn't something normally associated with Pacquiao, he'd be smart to approach this fight with such an approach. 

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