Rios says he wasn’t hurt, lauds Pacquiao’s speed

Manny Pacquiao, from the Philippines, right, lands a right to Brandon Rios of the United States during their WBO international welterweight title fight Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, in Macau. AP

MANILA, Philippines – Even with his face swollen from all the beating, Brandon Rios insisted that Manny Pacquiao didn’t hurt him throughout their 12-round welterweight bout Sunday at the CotaiArena at The Venetian Hotel and Casino in Macau.

“He never hurt me,” Rios, who sustained a cut just below his left eye, said during the post-fight presser after Pacquiao cruised to a trouble-free unanimous decision win.

But what the 27-year-old Rios, who folded under the bright lights of his first pay-per-view fight, couldn’t ignore was Pacquiao’s undiminished quickness and hand speed.

“What got me was just the speed and the awkwardness,” Rios admitted. “He’s very fast. He has a lot of different angles. He’s difficult to box against.”

“I put my heart and soul into this fight. The best Manny Pacquiao showed up tonight.”

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