Pacquiao out to prove something

CEBU, Philippines - Filipino ring star Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38KOs) gamely acknowledged that he needed to pull off a decisive win over Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 22KOs) in their November 24 bout at the Cotai Arena of the luxurious Venetian Resort and Casino in Macau to regain lost pride and glory. The two fighters were in New York yesterday to drum up their highly-anticipated bout that is touted as China's first 'global' boxing event.

After he suffered back-to-back losses to American Tim Bradley and his Mexican arch-nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez, many have thought that Pacquiao's fighting career is already over.

"Many people thought my boxing career was ended after the last fight," Pacquiao said in a report by Marcus Henry of www.newsday.com. "In the last fight I was in amazing condition. It just happened that in the sixth round that I walked into a good punch."

But the fighting congressman from Sarangani Province is out to dispel that notion when he steps on the ring against Rios.

The 34-year-old Pacquiao said he didn't want an easy opponent that is why he is picking on Rios, whom he feels would bring out the best in him.

"I know he's a good fighter. He throws a lot of punches,"  Pacquiao said. "I chose him because I know he can give a good fight . . . I'm going to prove I can still fight and my boxing career isn't over."

"It is important that we win this fight because we all know that we lost our last fight and so that we can bring honor again to our country," added Pacquiao in a separate report by Rich Mazon of philboxing.com.

The 27-year-old Rios himself was a bit surprised upon learning that he is going to take one Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion.

"When I lost to Alvarado, I thought I had to start way back down on the ladder and work my way back up," Rios said. "But they told me I got the fight and I was very excited." (FREEMAN)