Pacquiao vs Rios: Dominant Win Proves Pac-Man Is Still Among World's Best

For many, Sunday morning's fight between Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios served as an important measuring stick that would indicate the state of Pac-Man's career.

In a very broad sense, there were two potential outcomes. 

If Manny was still Manny, then he would handle Bam Bam with ease. The American, with a little bit of a crazy streak, was an aggressive fighter with a strong chin, but he possessed nowhere near the speed, skill and power of an in-form Pacquiao. 

But if Manny's shocking knockout at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez last December was more of an indication of where he currently stood, he would have struggled with Rios, who had the youth, heart and relentless style to bother a vulnerable Pacquiao. 

Well, Manny is still Manny. 

Saying Pacquiao was on another level than Rios in Cotai might just be an insult to the 34-year-old Filipino—he was several stories above an outclassed Rios. 

You could try to let the numbers tell the story, via ESPN Stats & Info:

But even that doesn't even quite grasp the entire picture. 

It was complete and utter domination—a clinic, an assault, target practice, whatever you want to call it. Anytime Rios tried to put something together, Pacquiao was about eight steps ahead of him, already using his lateral quickness to strafe out of the way and deliver punishing flurries and combinations. 

It was a beautiful, intelligent exhibition of boxing in which Pacquiao was able to do whatever he wanted. 

Don't get me wrong. Rios is an inferior opponent and it's important not to overreact to a fight in which Pacquiao was a heavy favorite. Moreover, some may be concerned about the lack of a knockout for Pac-Man, who hasn't won via that route since 2009. 

Nevertheless, the Clash in Cotai was about the process more than the result. 

More important than his opponent or the way the fight ended was Pacquiao's combination of speed and power, which would have looked impressive no matter who was on the other side of the ring. 

In the words of Pacquiao himself, his time is not done yet.