Pacquiao vs. Rios: Breaking Down Each Fighter's Biggest Keys to Victory

When Manny Pacquiao takes on Brandon Rios in Macau, the match will come down to which boxer does a better job of following their game plan.

Pacquiao comes into the bout as a -450 favorite, according to Bovada. However, the Filipino superstar is coming off consecutive losses to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, so it is clear he can be defeated.

Meanwhile, Rios is also looking to bounce back from a loss after falling to Mike Alvarado by unanimous decision earlier in the year.

Still, either man is capable of earning an important win in this matchup. However, the competitors will not be successful if they do not follow these keys to victory.

Brandon Rios

Remain Aggressive

The best skill Rios possesses is his willingness to go right after his opponent. In his last match against Alvarado, each fighter threw over 800 punches and landed about 30 percent of them, according to BoxRec.com.

While this did not necessarily end well for him, this is the same strategy that allowed him to win his previous 31 matches. He simply pesters his opponent with hits from the beginning to the end.

Pacquiao has never been known for his defense, but few have been able to challenge him in this area. Instead, he is usually the one throwing the punches to keep others backing up.

Rios has to cause some damage by going right after his opponent and not allowing the former champ to get on the attack. This could put Pacquiao in an unnatural position and cause some struggles.

Look to Counterpunch

If we learned one thing from the fourth fight between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, it is that the Pac-Man is susceptible to a counterpunch.

Pacquiao was aggressive throughout the fight and kept coming after his rival. However, Marquez waited for the right moment and came back with a devastating blow to the face.

Of course, Marquez has long been known as one of the best counterpunchers in the world. Still, it is something that Rios has to be aware of throughout the match, as Pacquiao tends to leave himself open at times.

If he can land one great punch against a defenseless opponent, it could end the match early.

Manny Pacquiao

Be Mobile

When you have had a long career of success, you never want to change your style. However, it is time for Pacquiao to vary things up a bit heading into his next fight.

Instead of his usual toe-to-toe aggressiveness, the boxer might have to do his best Floyd Mayweather impression and bounce around the ring for some time. Pacquiao can still throw a flurry of punches like usual, but he has to make sure to not make himself a target.

Rios is likely to come out throwing wildly, so Pacquiao cannot simply sit and let the hits come to him. He needs to be mobile to stay out of the line of fire.

In the end, the skillful boxer's efficiency will win the day.

Stay Focused

Coming into his first fight in almost a year, Pacquiao has a lot on his mind. This is not a good thing for a boxer set for one of the biggest bouts of his career.

Trainer Freddie Roach recently stated that the superstar would consider retirement if the upcoming bout "does not go well," according to ESPN. This not only puts more pressure on the fight than necessary, but the idea of having one foot already out the door likely distracted him while training. 

To make matters worse, the Philippines congressman also has to deal with the devastating typhoon that destroyed parts of his country and killed thousands.

According to Gareth A. Davies of the Daily Telegraph, Roach admitted, "He is focused on the fight still but obviously it is a big distraction because it killed all of those people."

Pacquiao has a lot on his plate right now, which could lead to a poor performance in the ring. He has to make sure to rid himself of the distractions and stay focused on the task at hand.

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