Why ex-Pacquiao foe Rios picks Mayweather to beat Manny

Former world lightweight champion Brandon Rios is leaning toward Floyd Mayweather to beat Manny Pacquiao should the long awaited showdown finally happen this year.

 

Rios, who suffered a lopsided loss to Pacquiao in 2013, has nothing but praises for the Filipino ring icon, but he thinks that Mayweather's superior boxing skills will prove too much to handle.

 

"It feels wrong for me to say this but I think Floyd beats Manny Pacquiao. Floyd is just a very defensive fighter, he’s got so many skills, he’s been in so many positions and he does have that skill. I do believe that Floyd beats him," Rios told ontheropesboxing.com.

 

Pacquiao is known to prefer his opponents coming forward, engaging in vicious trades. According to Rios, Mayweather should be smart enough to avoid a firefight with Pacquiao and cruise to a points victory.