'Tune-up fight' vs Rios shows Pacquiao learned from two defeats

Manny Pacquiao is a changed man in more ways than one. And on Sunday morning, he proved that he has learned from his two previous losses, putting on a clinic against Brandon Rios.

"Overconfidence kasi yung pagkatalo kay Bradley. Di nagkasundo ang judges, di nagtiwala sa kanya," said boxing analyst Sev Sarmenta in an interview with News To Go's Howie Severino and Kara David. "Kay Marquez klarong klaro, lamang siya after five rounds, bumagsak siya nung third, na-overturn niya. Bukas siya, fine-fake niya yung bago mag left hook. Eh nakita ni Marquez, 'Uy ito na yun, it’s coming.' Inunahan niya ng kanan, tapos."

Pacquiao's win against Rios was a convincing one, as it reminded his fans that he still has the capacity to combine volume and speed to overwhelm his opponents.

"Na-spoil tayo ng ilang taon ni Pacquiao na thundering hero, invincible, sunod sunod yun: Dela Hoya, Hatton, yung mga napabagsak niya," Sarmenta said. "Yung Magarito medyo di niya napabagsak. Pero [with Rios] he was thinking. Smart boxer si Pacquiao. Sunod na question dito, wala na bang edge si Pacquiao? This is something we can’t discuss, nagbabago din ang mga boksingero"

Sarmenta also reminded Pacquiao fans that as the Saranggani representative climbs in weight class, it is expected that his ability to knock out bigger, wider opponents may not come as often as before:

"Lagi natin nakakalimutan minsan, malaki ang mga nakakalaban ni Manny. These are big guys who want to come down to his weight para makalaban siya of course because of money at para sa opportunity to fight a big fight against Pacquiao. Pero ang match talaga kay Manny ay si Marquez in terms of height, size, reach, know-how, sila talaga ‘yung kontrapelo sa isa’t isa. Bradley, not as exciting pero sukat na sukat yung dalawang yun. Si Manny ingat siya ngayon eh, sabi rin naman niya batay dun sa interview. Kasi alam mo, sa knockout, may nawawala sa kanya. Lahat ng boksingero, pag tinamaan, may epekto yan kahit paano."

But it was his shock knockout against Marquez just before the bell rang to end round six that drove a point to the People's Champ.

"I think he’s a little discerning, nawala yung hataw talaga, wala na yung gigil na 'uupakan ko to,'” Sarmenta said. "He has come to a point na tanggap niya, 'Manny Pacquiao ako, di na kailangan.'

"Maraming disappointed kasi umabot ng 12 rounds pero tingnan din natin yung boxing, hilong hilo si Rios," Sarmenta added. "Pag pinanood niyo yung replay, panuorin niyo ang elusive tactics ni Manny, ang mga iwas, yung ganda ng boxing niya, iwas-suntok, iwas-suntok, ito yung mga pinaghandaan ni Manny ayon sa reports ni Chino Trinidad sa Macau at GenSan."
 
Sarmenta added, though, that Pacquiao's one-sided offensive display against Rios reeked of a tune-up fight:
 
"Si Rios lang naman nagsasabi na hindi siya tune-up fight. Alam ng lahat na tune-up fight ito. Ang magandang nagawa ni Arum, isang madaling laban, then mahirap na laban, then madaling laban. Hindi dalawang magkasunod na mahirap na laban. Marquez-Mayweather will never happen. Rios is not in the class of Manny. Marami pang kakainin. Nung lumaban siya kay Mike Alvarado, bagay sila eh, brawl. Suntukan, away kalye. Pero Pacquiao, smarter ngayon. Si Pacquiao kung gusto niya away kalye pwede eh, nung bata bata pa. Pero ngayon, matapos ang dalawang talo, mag-iingat na." - AMD, GMA News