Manny Pacquiao’s Coach Issues 3-Word Prediction Amid Rising Concerns Over Mario Barrios Fight

“He’s an amazing person, Manny Pacquiao, and if anybody can do it, he can do it. But I’m really concerned about it, given his age and his inactivity,” Bob Arum recently said. He was talking about Manny Pacquiao‘s hotly debated return. After the Cotto fight, the Top Rank honcho had famously remarked, “Pacquiao is the greatest boxer I’ve ever seen.” So much has changed since the 2009 fight. Cotto retired in 2017. However, an intriguing about-turn finds 46-year-old Pacquiao facing Mario Barrios.

Four years after Cotto hung up his gloves, Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement under similar circumstances. He’d lost a bout to Yordenis Ugas. Now the Filipino icon has shocked the boxing world by claiming a shot at the WBC title as a fifth-ranked contender! After having witnessed a match between a 58-year-old Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, to some, the fight between Pacquiao and Barrios, sixteen years his junior, appears quite ominous. However, despite concerns, there are some who believe the PacMan can really make it through.

Manny Pacquiao: Gearing up to complete the stretch

Elie Seckbach, who has been closely following Manny Pacquiao ever since he arrived in LA for his official fight camp, caught up with the former world champion’s strength and conditioning coach, Justin Fortune. The former heavyweight fighter has been in Pacquiao’s corner for several title fights.

Boxing: Pacquiao vs Ugas, Aug 21, 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada Manny Pacquiao is pictured before the start of a world welterweight championship bout against Yordenis Ugas at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports, 21.08.2021 21:09:21, 16621698, Manny Pacquiao, Boxing, T-Mobile Arena PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xStephenxR.xSylvaniex 16621698

Later, as the discussion drew to a close, Pacquiao’s trainer, Buboy Fernandez, and an assistant trainer joined. No sooner had Fortune and Buboy withdrawn for a private conversation than Seckbach turned to the assistant and asked, “Your prediction for the fight—what do you think?”

The trainer paused for a few seconds before replying, “It’s gonna go 12 (rounds).” For those looking forward to the July 19 fight, that kind of sums up the preparation taking place at the backend. If Pacquiao isn’t able to stop Barrios early, then the team is readying him up for a full-scale battle.

In a way, that appears a sound arrangement. Though not a champion in the class of Jaron Ennis or Brian Norman Jr., Mario Barrios is not a feeble opponent, as one may expect him to be.

But warning signs are hard to ignore

But if Manny Pacquiao and his team fail to cover all bases, then covering the distance might turn into a nightmare. Recently a resurfaced video of Pacquiao being fed by his wife after the Ugas fight has been going viral. One of the users who saw the footage invariably commented, “Pacquiao got spoon-fed by his wife after his last fight; now he is coming back.”

LAS VEGAS – MARCH 19: Manny Pacquiao (L) of the Philippines is hit by a right hook as he throws a jab at Erik Morales of Mexico during Morales’ 15-13 unanimous decision winning game over Manny Pacquiao during the World Super Featherweight Championship at the MGM Grand Hotel March 19, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Speaking with The Ring, Bob Arum, under whose banner Manny Pacquiao fought several bouts, was equally alarmed. Arum recalled George Foreman‘s famous victory, when at age 45 he knocked out Michael Moorer and became the oldest heavyweight champion in history. Now Pacquiao is trying for a similar feat – to become the oldest welterweight champion.

However, there’s a marked difference. “George had been active over the years prior to that fight with Moorer. Manny hasn’t been active at all, really,” said the veteran promoter. Quite a few fans expressed their displeasure when they came across PacMan’s training footage.

So boxing’s only eighth division champion is not only facing a young, in-prime belt holder. He’s also facing a barrage of doubts. Worries that Manny Pacquiao will be just another former champion who underestimated the toll of time.

If the fight goes the whole distance? Then will Pacquiao have an edge over Barrios?

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