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| (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) |
- Mario Barrios defends his WBC welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao on July 19 in Las Vegas.
- Pacquiao comes out of retirement for this fight inside the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
- Pacquiao is the +225 betting underdog, while Barrios is the -250 betting favorite.
Reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios will welcome the challenge of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, who will come out of retirement for this championship battle on July 19 inside the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Because he’s coming off a four-year hiatus and is already 46 years old, Pacquiao heads into the match as the considerable betting underdog with +225 boxing odds. On the other hand, Barrios, the defending world champion, is going to be the -250 betting favorite.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios Odds
Manny Pacquiao: +225
Mario Barrios: -250
Tie: +1600
Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios: Prediction
I predict a unanimous decision win for Pacquiao against Barrios because the latter often crumbles under pressure during megafights and title showdowns, much like he did during his matches against Davis and Ramos.
Although Pacquiao is coming off a four-year layoff from professional boxing, he has maintained his shape by competing in various exhibition matches. Furthermore, “Pacman” has the wealth of experience he can use against his much younger opponent.
I expect Pacquiao to go all out in the first six rounds of the match because this is what he did against Thurman before, scoring an early knockdown. That knockdown became crucial in the judges’ scorecards, which helped him secure the split decision win.
As for Barrios, he should weather the early barrage from Pacquiao and turn it up in the tail end of the fight, where Pacquiao would be more vulnerable to counter punches and power shots. Additionally, he should fully utilize his height and reach advantages to keep the challenger at bay while landing his punches and combinations.
Manny Pacquiao’s Recent Fight Results
Pacquiao is the only eight-division boxing world champion in history, and he has left a lasting legacy due to this historic achievement. Aside from winning world titles across several weight classes, the Filipino icon also scored victories against other boxing royalty.
Included in Pacquiao’s hit list are Erick Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton, Keith Thurman, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, and Oscar De La Hoya. His supposed retirement fight against Yordenis Ugas in August 2021 ended in a unanimous decision defeat.
Mario Barrios’ Recent Fight Results
Barrios is one of the current titleholders in the welterweight division. He made his pro debut in November 2013 and slowly moved up in weight. His first major fight on the grandest stage was against Gervonta Davis in June 2021, but he suffered an 11th-round TKO loss.
Since that loss to Tank, he moved up to the welterweight division and won three of his five bouts, including the WBC interim welterweight title, which was later elevated to the regular champion status. His most recent outing was a disappointment, as his fight with Abel Ramos ended in a split draw.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios: Tale of the Tape
Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios: Start Time
July 19, 11 p.m. E.T.
July 19, 10 p.m. C.T.
July 19, 9 p.m. M.T.
July 19, 8 p.m. P.T.
- ANATOLY PIMENTEL
