It is often said that there is a calm before the storm, for Brandon Rios, he has 5 months of anticipation before he finally steps into the ring with 8 division world champion, Manny Pacquiao. In part 2 of my exclusive interview with Brandon Rios, he talks about the wait ahead of him and gives his thoughts on what he expects to happen when they do meet in the ring.
In addition, Rios discusses the current boxing landscape and some fights that are set to happen in and around his division. He gives his take on a Matthysse-Garcia fight, and also breaks down the upcoming Marquez-Bradley bout that is slated for October. In closing Brandon gives his thoughts on fighting in China, and gives his official prediction for the bout. Here is what Brandon Rios had to say.
Jenna J:The fight with Manny Pacquiao is 5 months away. How do you keep yourself sharp in the gym, knowing that the fight is so far off?
Brandon Rios:That’s why I’m in the gym Monday’s and Friday’s you know. I’m in the gym now sparring with Maidana, just to help him out. Just to keep my momentum, my movement, I don’t want that to die out completely and not train this whole time so when I go back into my camp and be rested you know. So I’m ready when I go to camp my body’s rested you know when I get put in camp I’ll be ready to go and I’ll be ready.
Jenna J:Brandon, I want to ask you about a couple of fights the fans are talking about. Juan Manuel Marquez, he’s going to turn the Pacquiao fight into another big fight, he’ll be taking on Timothy Bradley. What are your thoughts on that one?
Brandon Rios:It’s gonna be a hell of a fight you know, Bradley showed everyone in his last fight that he can bang and he did a tremendous job doing it. Marquez is a great counter puncher man, and he knows how to box very well, he knows how to move very well and he knows how to counter very well. That’s gonna be an interesting fight, its just going to be one of those fights that you’ve just got to watch and see. It’s gonna be a great fight though.
Jenna J:The other fight fans are still talking about is when Lucas Matthysse knocked out Lamont Peterson in three rounds. I gotta get your view on this, as it happened in the same division you fight in. What was your view on the fight?
Brandon Rios:God damn man, that was one hell of a fight. Matthysse, the way he just, cuz Peterson ain’t no joke, he can fight, he’s got balls, he likes to fight, he likes to break it up. Wow, I couldn’t believe that he got him out in three rounds, he showed that he out powered him with both hands, he didn’t just look for the right like everyone thought he would do. He out powered him with both hands, he looked great. I told my wife, man if only I was with Golden Boy and Top Rank didn’t have the problems with each other, man that would be one hell of a fight for the fans to watch, me and Matthysse fighting, we would go to war, it would be a classic I think.
Jenna J:It certainly would be. As a boxing fan that would be one fight and I would wish for every night, and maybe it can happen in the future. Speaking of future, Lucas Matthysse, he’s got Danny Garcia next, that’s an exiting fight. What do you think about that one?
Brandon Rios:I think it will go five rounds and he will take him out, Lucas Matthysse ain’t no joke. He’s been showing that he has power and he’s been looking better actually, with his skill an offense wise, he looks really good, so it will be a great fight. Danny Garcia comes to fight too, it will be a great fight.
Jenna J:Ok Brandon I’ve just got a couple more questions before I let you off the line. Back to your fight with Manny Pacquiao. The kind of exposure you’re going to get from this type of event, him being as well known as he is, being a congressman overseas. Do you think you’re going to gain a lot more Brandon Rios fans by having this match up?
Brandon Rios:Probably not you know, honestly. All I know is that I do have fans out there in the UK, I know that for sure, everybody out there in London, England, everybody out there in the UK I know I’ve got a lot of fans out there, and thanks to them for supporting me. It’s not just from the way I box, it’s things that I do outside in the community and everything, so thanks to them for that. I know I’m ready. I know that when I go to China its gonna be mostly his fans out there because everybody cheers Manny Pacquiao on, so it will be great as well, just to visit China. I’m not really worried about that, that’s not gonna be a distraction, I’m ready to show the world what I can do, because when I fight the best, I think the best comes out of me.
Jenna J:You mentioned that the best will come out of you. What do you say to the fans out there that say, well, this is Manny Pacquiao, this is an eight division world champion, Brandon Rios doesn’t have a chance. What do you have to say to those critics?
Brandon Rios:Let them say what they got to say, I’ll just keep proving them wrong. I did that before and I’ll do it again. It doesn’t bother me, I’ll let them talk cuz at the end of the day they are still talking about me and they still mention my name, so I don’t really care. They say “oh he’s just a bum,” well bum or not, you still mention this bums name, so I’ll let them talk and say what they gotta say. I’m ready one hundred percent and you know what, to all of them that hate, they’re welcome. The ones that always show me support and give me credit and are always on my side no matter what, I thank you guys, the fans, I love you guys and I’ll always fight my heart out for you guys. Not only that, I’ll fight my heart out for my family too. It’s great, I’m just ready, very excited.
Jenna J:It might be four months away, but for my final question, how do you think a Brandon Rios vs Manny Pacquiao plays out?
Brandon Rios:All out war, it’s gonna be an all out war. I think it will be a bloody mess, he’s gonna go crazy, I’m gonna go crazy, it’s just gonna be a great fight you know. I say a war, a bloody war, that’s what it’s going to be.
For part 2 of this exclusive interview with Brandon Rios: CLICK HERE
