Simply put - Still the best in the game. He still has tremendous legs for his age. Rios was frustrated he couldn't get anywhere near him. His footwork is still there. Absolutely amazing to watch how he gets out of situations with his footwork. Pacquiao still has the feet. Just lacks the killer instinct.
Manny's footwork is great against slow plodders with no defense and no hand speed. Of course Manny looks like a monster. That awkward **** will look bad again against a Bradley or anyone with the slightest ring iq.
Pacquiao has quick feet and excellent balance; that doesn't mean 'best footwork in the game'. There isn't a lot of variety in what he does and never has been. He isn't exactly capable of pulling off any fancy maneuvers. It has always just been the bunny hop in and out to flurry and then fast circling. What has always been impressive about his footwork is the speed, not the craft - along with his stamina and leg strength to keep it up all night.
Brilliant footwork by Pac last night but more then that he didn't lunge in or over commitment himself like he's been doing in the last few years. That was a very controlled display by Pac, the kind of stategy he should now fight coming up to his 35th birthday.
He fought almost exactly the same as he did in Marquez IV (and the same as he does basically every time); Rios just can't time a counter for ****. Pacquiao was moving in and out too fast and Rios didn't have a prayer of landing. Pacquiao still dropped his gloves at times. Rios being unable to exploit doesn't mean the familiar old hop inside to flury wouldn't get Pacquiao countered by someone like Marquez just the same again.
