Pacquiao to bank on experience against Rios

MANILA, Philippines – “Is Rios ready for me?”

Manny Pacquiao said boxing observers should raise that question when pertaining to his upcoming fight with Mexican banger Brandon Rios.

Pacquiao and Rios are in Beijing, China on Tuesday to promote their Nov. 24 clash in Macau, touring the Great Wall of China and also making a stop at Tiananmen Square.

The fighting congressman said he will be leaning on his extensive ring experience that’s highlighted by facing high-quality opponents through the years.

The Filipino boxing icon is turning 35 just a few weeks after the fight, while the Mexican-American Rios is a fresh 27 with fewer fights in his resume.

That, Pacquiao pointed out, will be a key difference in their face-off.

“I have seen Rios fight and I am confident that I will win this fight. One of my advantages is my experience against better opposition,” said Pacquiao, whose impressive list of ring victims includes legends Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, and bigger guys like Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

That’s a murderer’s row of opponents for Pacquiao, something Rios lacks in his record. The heavy-handed slugger’s notable wins came against lesser-named fighters Anthony Peterson, Urbano Antillon and Mike Alvarado.

Rios, for his part, acknowledged Pacquiao’s boxing feats but said that the Filipino isn’t lacking in flaws.

“My first impression of meeting Manny Pacquiao in Macau was that he was smaller than I thought he would be. I have an enormous amount of respect for him and what he has accomplished,” said Rios.

“Manny makes a lot of mistakes and (trainer) Robert (Garcia) and I will be working hard on a plan to exploit them. I can’t let this opportunity slip through my fingers,” he said.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, understands that his career is on the line against Rios, having lost back-to-back against Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez.

“I am feeling a little pressure for this fight since I have lost my previous two. An impressive victory against Rios will raise my name again in boxing. My belief in God and training hard as I can will help to relieve that pressure,” said Pacquiao.

Still, the Filipino southpaw hinted that it’s Rios who should be worried.

“I think the question that needs to be asked is, ‘Is Rios ready for me?’”