Speed meets Power: Pacquiao and Barrios ready for war on July 19

Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios will be entering their fight next week, each armed with key weapons. It will be a matter of which one neutralizes the other.

"Remember, in boxing, speed is the key," Pacquiao stated recently in an interview.

Although he's already 46 years old, the Filipino boxing icon insists he hasn’t skipped a beat, with his trainers and onlookers in Los Angeles affirming his solid workouts over the past few weeks.

Pacquiao is ending a four-year retirement to try and dethrone Barrios, the reigning World Boxing Council welterweight champion, on July 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Despite age, inactivity, and size working against him, Pacquiao will be the underdog against Barrios, who is 16 years younger and towers over him at six feet tall.

However, Pacquiao maintains he has something Barrios does not. "I'm faster than Barrios. My movement and speed are still there. It was good for my body to rest for four years. I still have the passion and fire in my eyes, and I'm working hard. It's still there," he added.

Pacquiao hasn't fought professionally since losing to Yordenis Ugas in 2021, where he seemed to be a shell of his former self, struggling to move against Ugas, who effectively timed him with jabs and looping right hands. 

Barrios, in contrast, believes his timing will be the key differentiator against the former eight-division world champion. 

"Timing always beats speed, and I have great timing. I have fast hands and fast feet too; I just choose not to use it all the time … it's kill or be killed in there. I'm going in there with bad intentions, trying to get him out of there," Barrios said.

Some observers note that by agreeing to fight Pacquiao, the 36-year-old Barrios has put himself in a lose-lose situation; if he wins, it’s because of Pacquiao’s age, but if Pacquiao pulls off an upset, Barrios will face criticism for losing to an older opponent. Nonetheless, Barrios is focused on taking home his title next week, stating, 

"I'm ready to get a [expletive] of backlash if I retire him." Barrios concluded.