Rather than vying for a meaningless trinket few knew existed to begin with, the multi-division Filipino champion will be trying to resurrect a career that some claimed was in its final throes after his stunning knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez last December in Las Vegas.
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In Rios, a once-beaten former lightweight belt-holder, he meets a stylistic match many consider made to order. Rather than the obvious counterpunching danger presented by Marquez, Bam Bam’s main contribution is an aggressive approach and a thirst for confrontation.
The Kansas-born Californian—beaten by Mike Alvarado (UD 12) in his last fight eight months ago—confidently guaranteed an upset when interviewed during HBO’s recent fight card from Corpus Christi, Texas, stating he was “ready to go out there and retire Manny Pacquiao.”
Meanwhile, in the words of Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, Rios “is in a lot of trouble.”
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2013
Time: HBO pay-per-view starts at 9 p.m. ET; main event no earlier than 11 p.m. ET
Venue: The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena, Macao, China
Odds: Pacquiao (-600), Rios (+400)
Warner Bros. Pictures "Grudge Match," and Eva Airlines, Pacquiao vs. Rios will take place Saturday, November 23, at The Venetian® Macao’s CotaiArena™. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.
For Pacquiao, this marks the pound-for-pound box office monarch's first fight outside the U.S. since his 12-round super featherweight unanimous decision victory over former world champion Oscar Larios in 2006, which took place in the Philippines. Rios, one of boxing's most exciting fighters, has only fought outside the U.S. twice, in México, winning a 10-round split decision over Ricardo Dominguez and knocking out Daniel Valenzuela in the second round in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 17 Sports Emmy® Awards, is providing an all-access pass to Pacquiao vs. Rios. The final episode of “24/7: Pacquiao/Rios” debuts Thursday, Nov. 21 (10:00 p.m.), just two days before the welterweight showdown.