Manny Pacquiao is set to take on Brandon Rios in Macau, China on November 24th, with his gaze set on a few more megafights before hanging up his gloves. Pacquiao still wants a fight with Floyd "Money" Mayweather, who has continued to dismiss the prospect.
Pacquiao believes a vicious knockout of Rios in China may change Mayweather's mind. Pacquiao advisor Michael Koncz said that Pacman is aware of how important an impressive showing is to his future in the sport.
"Manny's doing everything possible to get back on track. There is no hanky-panky. I talked to him and he knows the magnitude of this fight. He knows that a win won't be enough. He has to win big," Koncz said.
Pacquiao's strength coach, Nonoy Neri, believes the potential for an explosive finish is present. "His power is still there, " Neri said.
Once considered Mayweather's equal, and possibly his superior, Pacquiao's career took a turn for the worst with two consecutive losses. The first defeat was at the hands of Timothy Bradley, although the vast majority of folks who watched the fight scored the fight as a whitewash for Pacman. Despite appearing to nearly sweep all 12 rounds from Bradley, the judges awarded "Desert Storm" an upset victory.
Pacquiao went on to face his old foe Juan Manuel Marquez, whom he had fought three times prior, winning twice and fighting to a draw once. Pacquiao was fighting well until running into a wicked right hand in the waning seconds of the sixth round that floored him for a stunning KO loss.
Koncz didn't call Marquez's punch lucky, but insisted it didn't mean Pacquiao's days as an elite force are done. "He just ran into that punch as he was winning the fight," Koncz said.
Manny will have a chance to prove he's "still got it" in November. He will need to put on an exciting show to convince Floyd that he's no "has been."
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