Jenna J: Today I am joined By returning guest, Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios. Hows everything going today Brandon?
Brandon Rios: Everything going great, I’ve just been chilling, kicking back, that’s it you know.
I’ve been to the gym today just to help out Marcos Maidana spar for his upcoming fight against Josesito Lopez. Other than that I’ve just been chilling man, spending time with the family.
Jenna J: Well, you have every right to chill, you’ve had a huge fight last time out against Mike Alvardo that was very close and competitive. Many people thought there would be good things to come for Brandon Rios coming up next, but a lot of people didn’t expect for you to be getting Manny Pacquiao in the ring next in November. How do you feel about this opportunity?
Brandon Rios: Well its great to get an opportunity that’s big like that. I’ve been waiting for a long time since I’ve been in boxing I’ve been waiting and its my time now. I’m glad that Manny Pacquiao has given me the opportunity to face him. I’m ready and Ill be well prepared and I’m ready to fight man. I’ve gotta maker a statement in this one, I’ve gotta go out with the win because it can only get better.
Jenna J: I’ve gotta ask you Brandon, why do you think Top Rank are taking such a chance with Manny Pacquiao? He’s coming off a huge knock-out defeat and a lot of people are wondering how he’s going to come out, and then they put him in with someone like you, who stays in someone’s face all night long and tries to pound them into submission Why do you think they chose this fight?
Brandon Rios: Honestly I don’t know, maybe they see something that he could do better and maybe they think that they can win. I’m not really worried about that, I’m just worried about going out there and giving the best that I can give and get ready for this fight with Pacquiao. Like I said thanks to them for giving me this opportunity. He’s a warrior and he’s ready to fight.
Jenna J: Brandon, you said after the Mike Alvarado rematch that you can learn from this type of defeat that you can improve from it. What do you think you can improve on?
Brandon Rios: Pretty much I wont be lifting so much weights no more, I did feel a little bit slower, my punching wasn’t the same so. Got to do a little more on defence because the first fight I came out with a little more defence, I learned defence and I cut the ring off more, but when I cut the ring, counter off and just get in and throw punches. There was a lot of things I learned so Ill be in great shape and be ready.
Jenna J: When you look at Manny Pacquiao what type of things offensively do you believe he can do in the ring which will actually give you some trouble?
Brandon Rios: Well, I really don’t know right now yet because I’ve not been watching films of him yet, were still a long way out. When I start watching videos and everything then I can say what I can do better and what is better off for me. Right now I cant tell you what we can do different and everything. I know that I can go in there, fight my fight and give it all I can give like I do all the time and just be ready.
Jenna J: What are your thoughts on Manny Pacquiao as a fighter and what he’s accomplished in his career?
Brandon Rios: Well, he’s done such a tremendous job fighting and winning eight different world titles in eight different classes, come on man, who can do that? Manny Pacquiao’s one of the best out there and like I say I’m just glad that they gave me the opportunity because I’m young and I’m hungry and It’s my time to shine now, It’s my time. Out with the old, in with the new.
Jenna J: You said you haven’t looked at film yet of Manny Pacquiao yet, but I mean, from you as a fighter, are you gong to try and change anything stylistically with yourself to approach this type of fight against a southpaw?
Brandon Rios: Ill just fight the same way I fight, like I always fight, like I said just certain things I’ve got to tighten up more and everything. I know he throws that right hand a lot so, you cant just think like Marquez, cos Marquez is one of a kind, he’s a technician, he’s a great counter puncher, so I’m just going to be out there and give what I’ve got to give and give the fans what they want and come out with my balls and start swinging.
Jenna J: When you look at this fight here you say its a huge opportunity for yourself. What do you think a win over Manny Pacquiao does and do you think a win over him at this point isn’t what it used to be because he’s lost two straight fights?
Brandon Rios: Oh no man, a win over him would put me on top of the world, it would get me out there with the big, big names and everything. I’m already out there I’ve just got to keep winning and keep winning is how I got there. I’ve made it up the ladder to face somebody like that so I’m Happy. Manny Pacquiao’s still a veteran he knows what to do, it’s not like he’s old or new at this, he knows what to do, so like I said this is my time now.
Jenna J: Its four months away, the fight is quite a distance away for you. 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 Mondays and Fridays you know. I’m in the gym now sparring with Maidana you know, just to help him out. Ill just 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 Ill be ready to go and you know, Ill be ready.
Jenna J: Brandon, I just want to ask you a couple about the boxing fans and things that have come up recently. 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: Recent news, and this is just the past weekend, Lucas Matthysse knocked out Lamont Peterson in three rounds. I gotta get your view on this, your in the same division. What was your view on the fight?
Brandon Rios: God damn man, that was one hell of a fight. Matthysse, the way he just, cos Peterson aint 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 it every night but maybe it can happen in the future, maybe it can happen. 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 aint no joke. He’s been showing that he has power and he’s been looking better actually, with his skill an offence 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 Brando 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 your going to get from this type of event, him being as well knows as he is, congressman overseas. Do you think your 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. Its not just from the way I box, its things that I do outside in the community and everything so, thanks to them for that. I know I’m ready you know. 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 you know, 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, Ill just keep proving them wrong. I did that before and Ill do it again. It doesn’t bother me, Ill let them talk cos 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, Ill 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, their 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 Ill always fight my heart out for you guys. Not only that, Ill 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 my last and final question is. How do you think a Brandon Rios vs Manny Pacquiao plays out?
Brandon Rios: All out war, its gonna be an all out war. I think it will be a bloody mess, he’s gonna go crazy, I’m gonna go crazy, its just gonna be a great fight you know. I say a war, a bloody war, that’s what it going to be.
Written with permission of On The Ropes Boxing Radio hostess Jenna J.
