Determinadong talunin si Rios: Dating porma muling ipapakita ni Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - Kinalimutan na ni Manny Pacquiao ang kanyang dala­wang magkasunod na kabiguan noong nakaraang taon.

At sa kanyang laban kay Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios ay handa niyang ipakitang muli ang dating Pacquiao na tumalo sa mga kagaya nina Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar Dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton, David Diaz, Antonio Margarito, Sugar Shane Mosley at Miguel Cotto.

Sa kanilang huling press conference kahapon sa Crystal Ballroom sa Beverly Hills, California, sinabi ni Pacquiao na ang kanyang pagbagsak sa sixth round sa mga kamao ni Juan Manuel Marquez noong Disyembre 8, 2012 ay “part of boxing.”

“I didn’t regret anything about that fight. It just happened he got me. I have confidence in my ability,” wika ng Filipino world eight-division champion. “When you look back at my last fight, my condition, aggressiveness and killer instinct is there.”

Naniniwala din si chief trainer Freddie Roach na hindi pa tapos ang makulay na boxing career ng Sarangani Congressman.

Ang laban sa 27-anyos na si Rios (31-1-1, 23 knockouts) sa Nobyembre 23 sa The Venetian sa Macau, China ang magpapatunay na kaya pang manalo at magpabagsak ng kalaban ang 34-anyos na si Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs).

“Manny is just too fast, and I wonder how Rios will take a punch,” sabi ni Roach. “I think Manny will be dominating with his power and speed. Rios swings a lot. You do that, you get caught. He’ll make us look great, it’s a perfect style matchup.”

Bago mapatulog ni Marquez sa kanilang ika­apat na paghaharap ay natalo muna si Pacquiao kay Timothy Bradley, Jr. via split decision noong Hunyo 9, 2012.

“Some fighters can come back,” wika naman ni Rios. “I’m not Manny, so I don’t know how he feels mentally and physically, but we are getting ready for the best Manny Pacquiao--the one who was dominating the fight game.”