Confident Rios wards off weight issues

MACAU – Though he scaled heavier at 146.5 lbs to Manny Pacquiao’s 145 lbs, Brandon Rios looked dehydrated during the official weigh-in on Saturday here at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian Resort.

But Rios’ trainer Robert Garcia wasn’t concerned at all.

In fact, he was as confident as his fighter.

The 27-year-old Rios was a little too cocky when he gamely engaged the pro-Pacquiao crowd to jeer him even more by motioning his hands to his ear to hear them. Then, he put his hands to his waist as if wrapping an imaginary belt to the consternation of the partisan crowd.

“We feel very confident. We had a great training camp. The weight was no issue. I think we have this in perfect condition,” Garcia told Philstar.com right after the well-attended weigh-in ceremony.

Garcia’s ward is coming in as an underdog despite an impressive 31-1-1 win-draw-loss record. Like Pacquiao, Rios is coming off a loss to Mike Alvarado in a title rematch to yield the WBA world lightweight belt.

Guaranteed a $3 million purse, the highest in his career, Rios is also aching to bounce back as his camp vowed to put on a great show for the fans.

“I predict a great fight. The fans will enjoy a great fight,” Garcia, who is also the trainer of the Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire, Jr.

In the last 24 hours leading to Rios’ first welterweight fight, Garcia wants nothing but focus on the tough challenge that awaits them on Sunday.

“Eat healthy and just rest as much as we can,” Garcia said.

And Rios badly needs that as Pacquiao will make him busy in the ring.

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(Editor’s note: This special coverage of the Pacquiao-Rios fight here in Macau is made possible by Cebu Pacific Air, why every Juan flies.)