MANILA, Philippines – Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios has no plans of fighting like Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez when he takes on Filipino ring icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao this November.
Marquez and Pacquiao fought four times, and the Mexican’s counter-punching style gave the Filipino trouble in each fight. “Dinamita” made the most of his signature style when he landed a perfect counter-right against Pacquiao in their fourth fight, knocking the Pacman out with just a second to go in the sixth round.
Yet despite Marquez’s success against Pacquiao, Rios said he won’t copy the Mexican’s counter-punching tactics.
“I don’t need to fight like Marquez, because Marquez is Marquez,” Rios said in a Boxing Scene interview. “I am going to fight the way I fight, but in a smarter way.”
Rios is known for his brawling ways and constantly forces his opponent to fight his fight due to his unrelenting pressure. But he admits that he will work on a smart game plan against Pacquiao, who is no slouch himself when it comes to punching power.
“We’re going to fight in a smart way, but in my style, and fight the same way I do,” Rios said. “Because I’m not a Marquez – I’m not a boxer, I’m not a counter-puncher.”
“I’m a brawler. I got balls and heart, and I come to fight,” he stressed.
Rios, who is coming off a loss against Mike Alvarado last March, will fight at the welterweight division for the first time when he and Pacquiao face off in Macau.
