by David P. Greisman
The Nov. 23 pay-per-view bout between Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios will be preceded by a “24/7” documentary series and a “Face Off” episode placing the fighters at a table for a conversation moderated by HBO’s Max Kellerman, according to network executive Tammy Ross, who made the announcement during a news conference on Tuesday.
Pacquiao has been featured on seven past editions of “24/7” for his bouts with Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Timothy Bradley and his third and fourth fights with Juan Manuel Marquez.
He is coming off two straight defeats: a controversial split decision loss to Bradley in June 2012, and a stunning one-punch knockout against Marquez this past December. The 34-year-old is now 54-5-2 with 38 knockouts.
Rios, 27, is coming off a decision loss this past March in a rematch with Mike Alvarado. He is 31-1-1 with 23 knockouts.
David P. Greisman is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow David on Twitter @fightingwords2 or send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com