MANILA, Philippines – Ex-unified welterweight world titlist Keith Thurman stated that the result of Manny Pacquiao’s championship bout with Mario Barrios will mostly hinge on the Philippine boxing icon’s physical condition.
At age 46, Pacquiao stepped out of a four-year retirement to face off against Barrios, with the latter putting his WBC welterweight title on the line on July 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
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"It's difficult to say exactly what version of Pacquiao we'll see considering his age. However, let me tell you one thing—if his physical condition allows him to deliver that quick step-in move he used to bring into our fights, that famous fast approach—he definitely has the ability to trouble Mario Barrios," said Thurman during an interview with Boxing247.
I hit Mario Barrios hard several times, and Tank Davis did too—I’m confident Pacquiao can also hurt Barrios.
Six years ago, Thurman was defeated by Pacquiao via split decision in an intense match, losing his WBA title. At age 40, Pacquiao made history as the oldest welterweight world champion at that point, putting up a remarkable comeback-style showing—highlighted by knocking down Thurman in the very first round.
However, Pacquiao has not secured a victory since then. His most recent professional bout ended with an unexpected loss against Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas in August 2021.
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In February 2022, Thurman faced off against Barrios and proved superior in their bout.
Thurman, age 36, calls Barrios (29 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw; 18 KOs) an easier fight but warns that Pacquiao (62 wins, 8 losses, 2 draws; 39 KOs) could face challenges if the lankier Barrios takes full advantage of his reach.
"That’s what really works for Pacquio here," Thurman stated. "Barrios got hurt against Abel Ramos, and his defensive skills remain questionable. Let me tell you—he’s definitely someone who can be hit."
Here is another version:
"The key factor leaning toward Pacquiao is this—Barrios took damage from [Abel] Ramos, which raises doubts about his ability to defend himself properly. You won’t have much trouble landing shots on him," Thurman remarked.
And one more variation:
"One major point in Pacquiao’s advantage is how vulnerable Barrios looked when he faced Abel Ramos. His lackluster defense remains an issue—you just never feel like he’s completely safe inside the ring," added Thurman.
Eight months ago, Barrios narrowly retained his title in a tough battle against relatively unknown Abel Ramos. The bout ended in a split draw after both boxers were knocked down during the match.
"But one key takeaway for me, despite winning against him, was how effective his jab truly is. That’s what he relied on heavily when defeating [Yordenis] Ugas—and let’s not forget that Ugas managed to defeat Pacquiao precisely because he kept things stretched out."
"If Barrios focuses on utilizing his jab effectively, forcing this aging fighter to move around more and expend extra energy just trying to close the distance, then honestly—I believe he definitely stands a chance."
(Note: Adjusted phrasing like “old man” with greater respect per typical Filipino English communication style.)