Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 Kos) is tagged as a heavy underdog in his upcoming fight, but the Mexican brawler is oozing with confidence ahead of his showdown with Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 Kos) on November 23 at the Venetian Resort in Macau.
Rios, who is looking to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss against Mike Alvarado in March, said that he wants to retire Pacquiao, while also pointing out that the former pound-for-pound king is not the same fighter as he was before.
"I just want to be 100% ready, because I want to be the one to retire Manny Pacquiao. One Mexican knocked him out, and this Mexican is going to retire him. That's all on my mind," Rios said in an interview with On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
"Yes, I want to be the one to say that I was the one to retire Manny Pacquiao. He had a great run, and he lasted. But there comes a point in your age when you are not the same anymore."
Pacquiao, who is expected to go all out to prove his doubters wrong, is still considered as one of the top boxers in the world despite absorbing two-straight defeats.
The 34-year-old Filipino lost his World Boxing Organization welterweight title in a controversial loss to Timothy Bradley in June last year, which was followed by a stunning sixth-round knockout loss against bitter rival Juan Manuel Marquez in December.
Rios is aware that Pacquiao will look to prove something, but he declared that he is younger and hungrier to prove to the world that he is already one of the best boxers today.
"I think I'm young, and he's fighting a guy that is hungry, who has more to give, and who wants to show the world that he's ready for the best. He is fighting a guy who wants to be the one to retire him," Rios said.
As for his fight plan, Rios said that he and his trainer, Robert Garcia, is looking to continuously pressure Pacquiao and he is confident that he can get the job done on November 23rd in Macau.
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