HIS last hurrah or greatest comeback?
Either way, Manny Pacquiao will be grabbing global headlines anew when he challenges taller and younger American World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila) at the site of his past epic wins and losses – the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao has thrived in basking in the limelight, flashing his charismatic smile that has won millions of fans the world over while doing the hard work in preparing for “Le Azteca,” who has worked just as hard so as not to become a footnote and stepping stone in his rival’s bid to return to ring greatness.
Both protagonists showed no ill will and were cordial to each other during the press conference yesterday morning (Wednesday in Las Vegas) at the MGM Grand, with Pacquiao in formal attire, donning a pinstripe blue suit, white long sleeved and black pants, while Barrios had a more casual look wearing a cowboy hat and the WBC belt around his left arm.
“I am ready now to step in there this coming Saturday. It is huge, it’s historic. Credit to Pacquiao’s team for daring to be great and doing what they’re doing. But it’s my time now and I am going to show that come Saturday,” the reigning champ said in his opening remarks.
“I know Barrios, he is the champion and I respect his team. They worked hard too. This is for the fans and the glory of God because without God, Manny Pacquiao is nothing,” the 46-year-old challenger said in response.
The Pinoy ring icon, who was inducted last month into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, also tipped his fans to boxing fans, saying: “Without the fans, boxing is dead, so I really appreciate your support in boxing.
“I am going to make sure that this coming Saturday that it is going to be a good fight and you know it’s been a while since I have been boxing in four years.”
It was left to Barrios’s trainer, Bob Santos, to stir the pot and come out with fighting words directed at the former eight-division world champion.
“Mario left no stone unturned for this fight. We’re ready for an all-out war. Toe-to-toe, I got El Azteca the two-time world champion in two divisions (as a sparring partner),” Santos remarked.
“Give this man his flowers, his props. All-out war, toe-to-toe, we are prepared for the best of Manny Pacquiao. We are not sleeping on him,” said the trainer, who was able to watch Pacman up close while being a part of Freddie Roach’s coaching staff at the Wild Card Gym, and use it as a way to crack the code in beating their celebrated opponent.
He disclosed that he was at ringside when Pacquiao floored the erstwhile undefeated Keith Thurman, the defending World Boxing Association super welterweight king at that time, twice before wresting the crown with a close split decision nearly four years ago in the same arena on July 20, 2019.
“I picked Keith Thurman to beat him (Pacquiao). Lo and behold, Keith Thurman is on the deck in the first round and the 12th rounds and knew he set the record (for being the oldest world welterweight champion at 41),” Santos recalled.
“But we will not allow that to happen, with all due respect to the icon. Mario Barrios will be victorious on July 19th.”
To that boast, Pacman, who wore sunglasses during the whole interview session, flashed his characteristic winning smile and said, “Well, that is why I am here, that is why I am in boxing, this is what I want. Make the fans happy and satisfied. I like that. Good for the fans, that is what I want.”
When it was pointed out that while he was the sentimental favorite, he was still a 2-1 underdog – based on the latest bookmakers’ odds – Pacquiao merely shrugged it off and replied: “That’s fine. There are so many fights that I was the underdog. Manny Pacquiao always brings surprises.”
Sporting a record of 68 wins, 39 by knockout, eight losses and two draws, he added that the four-year layoff had done him a world of good so that he felt rejuvenated in bucking the odds.
“My body was able to rest for four years. And now I am back, I am excited. My body is looking for it,” said Pacman with an impish grin at the prospects of entering the ring and being the headliner once again on fight night at the MGM Grand Arena for the 16th time.
On the other hand, Barrios said that he didn’t bother to know about the odds and would not be overwhelmed by battling a legendary boxing champion.
“We have not been saying (at our training camp) that we are fighting a legend or another Hall of Famer. At the end of the day, he (Pacquiao) is just another man in there. Just another opponent to take my title, regardless of what he has accomplished in giving to the sport,” said the San Antonio-based fighter, who will be making his second title defense.
Proud of his Mexican roots, he disclosed his favorite Pacquiao moment was when Juan Manuel Marquez knocked the Pinoy pug out in the sixth round at the same venue in 2012, and then was asked if he was gunning for a KO of his foe.
“I am not going in there looking for a knockout, but I go in there with bad intentions,” Barrios, who has a record of 29 wins (18 KOs), two losses and one draw, said. “I have power in both hands. At any point I see him hurt, I will not hesitate to pull the trigger. It is the same for him.”
Rather than being upset about recalling the incident, Pacquiao merely smiled again and said that it “was part of the game. That was not the end. We learned a lot from that moment,” vowing that he would still retain his swashbuckling style when he takes on Barrios.
Asked about his forecast on the outcome of the title clash, Pacman merely shrugged his shoulders and said: “We leave it to God, we will do our best in the ring to entertain the fans. It is going to be a fantastic fight.”
As for Barrios, who knows how a victory will mean to his career, he said that “It is going to be a hell of a fight against a living legend, but at the end of the night you are still going to hear ‘and still…’ (the champion of the world).”
