Brandon Rios inside of the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy before leaving for China (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com)
By Chris Robinson
Prior to leaving for Macau, China, in advance of his Nov. 23 clash against Manny Pacquiao, Brandon Rios shared a few thoughts on the fight exclusively with HustleBoss.com.
Rios will meet Pacquiao inside of the Cotai Arena in an HBO pay per view attraction that has seen him thus far relishing his role as a sizeable underdog against one of the most dynamic and dangerous southpaws in recent memory.
Speaking from the confines of his trainer Robert Garcia’s personal facility in Oxnard, Calif., Rios claimed that one of the most telling things about this particular training camp was simply finding a way to cope with a style that he hasn’t seen much of.
“Training hard and just getting ready for a lefty,” Rios stated. “I think it’s been the longest camp that I’ve had. At first it was getting used to a lefty. Now I got used to it and now I’m ready.”
On any given day that Rios is inside of the gym, you can expect your share of trash talk and off-the-wall antics from the Kansas native.
For Rios, the horseplay serves as his therapy in dealing with the rigors of several weeks of full-fledged training.
“That’s what makes camps better for me,” Rios insisted. “That’s what makes it fun, interesting all the time. Being around, joking around with people. Everybody’s here is a big family and we f*ck around with each other. That’s what makes camps easier for me.”
Rios is actually coming off of his first professional loss, as he was edged by Denver’s Mike Alvarado over 12 rounds this past March in a highly-anticipated rematch.
Rios had stopped Alvarado in under seven rounds five months earlier and was a favorite heading into their second meeting. And while the loss initially stung, everything would eventually come full circle as the Pacquiao opportunity arose weeks later.
“I loss to Alvarado, yes, but my mind is clear,” Rios stated. “I lost that fight but it feels like I won it. It’s the biggest fight of my life and the one I always wanted to fight. I’ve been wanting to fight one of the best fighters out there and I’m going to fight him now.”
Facing off with Pacquiao is no easy task, as the eight-division champion is known for attacking his opponents from all angles with volleys of fast and powerful blows.
Rios understands what is in front of him and revealed how he can go about chopping Pacquiao down.
“I think the pressure I put on him and the sh*t I do,” Rios stated when asked about Pacquiao’s style. “I put a lot of pressure and I throw a lot of punches too. It’s not like he’s the only one who does. Yes, he’s quicker than me and that’s it.
“You can always neutralize speed,” Rios added. “I did it with [Miguel] Acosta. He was very fast and I neutralized it. It might take me a couple rounds but I’ll get the hang of it and I’ll be ready.”
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Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com