Hall-of-Famer Manny Pacquiao makes his ring return this weekend when he takes on WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Sunday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The Filipino was last seen in a competitive fight in 2021, which he lost on points to Yordenis Ugas. Since then, he has competed in exhibitions and focused on his political career, but he will try to make history on Sunday.
Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, will look to become boxing’s oldest welterweight world champion at the age of 46. The fan favourite already holds that record after beating Keith Thurman for the WBA ‘Super’ title at the age of 40 in 2019.
Barrios has lost on the big stage on two occasions, but the 30-year-old will hope it is a case of third time lucky this weekend.
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Mario Barrios vs Manny Pacquiao tips
Fans should get their money’s worth
No boxing fan can say that Pacquiao was never value for money and the Filipino has been involved in some of the best fights of the last two decades. His hand speed, elite footwork and knockout power made him a star, but all of that came in his prime and at lower weights.
Pacquiao has only recorded one stoppage win at welterweight since 2010, with the majority of his stoppage wins coming in the early stages of his career. The veteran has succeeded thanks to his superior hand speed and skill, but at 46, there’s no guarantee he will be able to replicate his previous displays.
Barrios is 16 years younger than his opponent and he may wait several rounds before he tries to take control of the fight. A defeat to someone of Pacquiao’s age would be an embarrassment, so Barrios will not be willing to take any risks.
He will likely keep things simple before trying to take over in the second half of the fight. Only one of Pacquiao’s last 11 fights have not gone the distance, while five of Barrios’s last six contests have gone past 10.5 rounds.
The one negative against Barrios is his performance on the big stage. He lost to Gervonta Davis and Thurman in “big fights” in 2021 and 2022 and he may be a little nervous at the first bell.
However, the duo were in their prime then, something Pacquiao is not. The veteran is bound to tire as the fight goes on and that should play into Barrios’s hands.
If the American can keep himself away from Pacquiao’s left hand, he should be relatively safe and his superior fitness should help him pick up a routine points win in Las Vegas.
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