Pacquiao vs Rios HBO Face Off Video and Transcript - On November 23rd, in Cotai Arena, at Macao China, is the return of global icon Manny Pacquiao. And he is in against one of the roughest, most exciting fighter in the business, Brandon Rios. But before they match up on that night, they face off.


Max Kellerman: Gentlemen, It’s been a long press tour, you’ve been all over the world, huh?

Brandon Rios: Yes, it has been very long.
Max Kellerman: He’s used to this sort of thing.
Brandon Rios: It’s my first rodeo. It’s okay.
Max Kellerman: What’s it been like?

Brandon Rios: It’s been great. It’s been awesome. It’s a different experience for myself. I don’t want to go back.

Max Kellerman: Go back to what?

Brandon Rios: Go back to what I was.

Max Kellerman: You feel like you’ve arrived?

Brandon Rios: I want to stay in this position.

Max Kellerman: How do you maintain this position?

Brandon Rios: First, I going to do, what I’m going to do in Macao. Fight one of the best pound for pound and be ready.

Max Kellerman: Manny you are famous at this point, coming off a big knockout loss, why choose a dangerous knock out fighter, for your first fight back?

Manny Pacquiao: I decided to choose an aggressive fighter like Rios, because I believe that I can prove to the people, that I can still fight, and my boxing career is not done yet. The most important thing is, I want to gain the trust and confidence of the fans.

Max Kellerman: Against Alvarado, and also Abril, it seems to me that in those fights, you got frustrated, that the guy wouldn’t fight you. But I didn’t see, is that you’ve done what you’ve always done, which is make something happen. Do more than you were doing at the time.

Brandon Rios: Everybody is thinking, oh Brandon is just a one dimension fighter. If a guy box him, he’s going to beat him easy. No, it’s not like that. It’s just people just want to run their mouth and say stupid thing. I can fight.

Max Kellerman: Is it okay, this one. It is an issue of turning it up another notch in terms of effort? Or is it an issue of technique that you have to apply?
Brandon Rios: It’s both. Technique and turning it up a notch. Because I’m fighting a top notch guy. I know what’s at stake.

Max Kellerman: I heard you say, that Marquez wasn’t the first knockout. The loss of your career, and you were able to come back. But you weren’t at this age at that point of your career. You haven’t made all the money, and you weren’t a global icon then that you are now. Do you ever question, to yourself if you still have it.

Manny Pacquiao: No. I never question my capability. My speed and power is still there.

Max Kellerman: What about the desire? Where do you get the desire to engage in this kind of brutal sport, considering what you’ve already accomplished?

Manny Pacquiao: I have 100 percent desire to continue my boxing career. All I can say is, my time is not done yet.

Brandon Rios: That’s what a lot of greats have said. A lot of greats have said that.

Max Kellerman: I’ve talked to fighters about fights like this. But usually those fighters, if you asked them, what they’re feeling before a fight is all kind of emotions. Fear and this and that. How do you feel? Do you have mixed emotions? Because it seems that the more violent the fight is, the more fun you have. Even if you that’s getting hit.

Brandon Rios: You enjoy what you’re doing. When you love boxing, I have passion for it. It’s not a job for me, it’s not a payday for me - it’s my passion. I’m enjoying it. For me, boxing is better than sex. That’s my orgasm!

Manny Pacquiao: (laughs)

Brandon Rios: I love this sports so much.

Max Kellerman: Is there something about sports that you love too? Sometimes I see you at fight, in the middle of the action, and I swear you get hit with a two piece and you have a smile on your face like your liking it.

Brandon Rios: Because you hit like a bitch. That’s what I feel. If you can’t hurt me… you better bring a bat or something. Cause I’m going to come. And what motivates me is I want to be the best. And I’m tired of people counting me out.

Manny Pacquiao: You want to be like me?

Brandon Rios: I don’t want to be like you. I want to be like Brandon. I’m tired of people counting me out. They are saying that this is a comeback (gesture to Manny), that I’m a punching bag. And that he’s going to fight Mayweather.

Manny Pacquiao: You know what, I’m going to do what I have done in boxing also.

Max Kellerman: Who would want to do, what you’ve done in boxing.

Brandon Rios: …Everyone wants to be a great too. Everyone wants to be the king of boxing.

Max Kellerman: I think one of the prediction is that for as long as this last, this is going to be a tremendous fight. Is there anything you want to tell Brandon?

Manny Pacquiao: What I can say is, prepare 100%, train hard and don’t forget to pray to God because we can’t do nothing without God. That’s how I become successful in my life.

Brandon Rios: I’m ready. Pray for me all right. I’ll be in the best shape in my life. I’m coming 100 percent. Ready mentally and physically. I’m going to let you concentrate on being a congressman, I got to go there and retire you. I got to retire Manny Pacquiao…

Manny Pacquiao: (Smiles)

Brandon Rios: Because I’m the next star.

Max Kellerman: Gentlemen, thank you very much. I can’t wait for the fight. November 23rd.

Pacquiao vs Rios HBO Face Off Video and Transcript