The Mexican camp was convinced Larios could pull off a stoppage after a smoking third round onslaught against Manny Pacquiao but ended up the beaten fighter as he deviated from his fight plan later.
"After the third round, Chololo didn’t do what he’s supposed to do. He fought the wrong fight. He started not following instruction. The problem set in as he thought he could knock Pacquiao out," said Rafael Mendoza, the Mexican fighter’s promoter-agent.
Jarring Pacquiao with crisp combinations in the third, Larios pressed his attack in the succeeding rounds, and this proved to be his biggest mistake.
"I thought Manny would get tired after six rounds. I was wrong. Pacquiao was quick and strong up to the finish. He beat me with his speed," said Larios through an interpreter.
Though claiming he was not hurt at all even as he sustained a nasty cut on left brow, the Guadalajara warrior admitted he lost to a great fighter.
Larios said Pacquiao is a great man atop and outside the ring.
But Larios also proved himself to be a good fighter, putting up a class act and drawing the admiration of the local fight fans.
The crowd gave Larios a warm applause as, riding on the back of one supporter, he kissed and waved his hands before the announcement of the judges’ verdict.
"Salamat Pacquiao, salamat Pilipinas," hollered Larios before descending the ring. Then, he drew another applause from the crowd.
The Mexicans believed Larios’ gallant stand against Pacquiao could become a key for more mega-buck fights in the future, including a possible rematch with the sensational Filipino pug.
"You saw the fight. HBO people know this is a good rematch and it’s up to them. Eric Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera will not come to Manila. This man did and put up a good fight," said Mendoza.
Mendoza said his ward did better than both Morales and Barrera against Pacquiao. He said Barrera lasted only 10 rounds, Morales 11 and Larios the full distance against the Pinoy pride.
"Before the fight, people were saying I’m going to the lion’s den and gonna be eaten alive. I proved to them I’m not easy to be beaten," said Larios.
Pacquiao, however, wasn’t impressed that he immediately ruled out a rematch with Larios.