With all due respect to Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KO's), if Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KO's) can not defeat him on November 23, then we can unofficially mark the end of Pacquiao's career.
The only thing that makes this fight interesting is the "Juan Manuel Marquez" effect. More specifically, how will Pacquiao respond in his first first fight back from his devastating KO loss to "Dinamita" last December?
If history is any indicator, many top-flight fighters have struggled in their return matches after suffering brutal knockout losses, especially if they happen later in their career.
Roy Jones's struggles come to mind, following his crushing losses to Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson. The once-promising Jermain Taylor never seemed to fully recover from his KO loss to Kelly Pavlik several years ago as well.
On the other hand, fighters like Lennox Lewis, who was dramatically KO'd on two separate occassions by Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, went on to win rematches and recalim titles against the same men. So, success can be had.
What will Manny Pacquiao's fate be two months from now? It will be a positive one. He'll stop Rios in round eight but the fight won't be a cakewalk for the aging Pac Man.
I am sure boxing betting websites will make Brandon Rios a live underdog but I am not buying his chances.
I tend to agree with you Jim. What round do you see it happening?