Rios preparing for ‘scary’ Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – Though taking into account Manny Pacquiao’s recent back-to-back losses, the trainer of Brandon Rios said his ward is gearing up for the Pacquiao of old – the rapid-punching, hard-hitting ring dynamo that stormed through a handful of weight classes and regarded as one of the best fighters of his generation.

In a recent interview with Lem Satterfield of ringtv.com, Robert Garcia said Rios is looking good in training with about six weeks left prior to his clash with Pacquiao on Nov. 24 in Macau, China.

"We don't like to publicize what's going on in training, but I'm so impressed. Brandon's been knocking our sparring partners out. He's doing a good job, looking so strong and so fast, and we've still got six weeks before the fight,” Garcia said.

“Brandon's going to fight at welterweight, so he doesn't have to kill himself to make weight. He's strong and he's walking around 10, 12 pounds over the weight,” added the soft-spoken trainer.

Garcia is once again in familiar territory, having worked the corner of Antonio Margarito in his fight with Pacquiao in 2010. The trainer then recalled the circumstances surrounding that bout.

"Margarito had to come down in weight, which really, really hurt him, to get to that catchweight. He had gotten destroyed in his previous fight against Shane Mosley. That was a big issue,” Garcia said of his former fighter, who ended up getting battered by Pacquiao in a lopsided 12-rounder.

It could be worth noting that Rios possesses the same come-forward style as Margarito, but does the Oxnard, California-based banger offer something else?

“The age. Brandon's younger than Margarito, which was three years ago. Since then, Pacquiao has lost to (Timothy) Bradley and gotten knocked out by (Juan Manuel) Marquez. So, those are things that we've got to take advantage of," Garcia explained.

Garcia, who also trains Nonito Donaire Jr., then went on to harp about Pacquiao’s accomplishments in boxing, saying they will treat the Filipino icon as if he’s at his peak.

“Manny Pacquiao's done so much in boxing that we've got to admire and be aware of all of that. So we're training for the Pacquiao that has done everything. The Pacquiao that is so fast, and so powerful, and who has knocked everybody out. We're preparing for the Pacquiao that's scary," he ended.