Latest news with #MarioBarrios
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Manny Pacquiao's ex-promoter Bob Arum drops verdict on comeback fight
Bob Arum has hailed Manny Pacquiao for his performance in his comeback fight against Mario Barrios earlier this month. Pacquiao returned from a four-year hiatus at the age of 46 to draw with a man 16 years his junior in Barrios in their WBC welterweight title fight in Las Vegas. Arum was not involved in the event after promoting Pacquiao for the majority of his career but did keep a close eye on how the fight played out. He was impressed by Pacquiao's display after having concerns about the Filipino legend performing a retirement U-turn. Arum told The Ring: 'I was very surprised. 'I thought it was remarkable. He looked like, truth be told, the fresher fighter in the ring. The other guy, the only thing he showed was a very good jab. He didn't show anything else. 'But Manny showed a lot of activity, jumping around and everything, and he looked like a fresh fighter. He didn't look like a 46-year-old guy who hasn't fought in four years.' There has been plenty of debate over the scoring in the aftermath of the fight, with many feeling Pacquiao should have been declared the winner. None of the judges scored the bout in his favour, with two having it level at 114-114, while the other had Barrios a 115-113 winner. Arum has no complaints with the scorecards, admitting that Pacquiao running out of steam in the championship rounds cost him dearly. 'I had Manny winning six rounds to three after the first nine rounds,' Arum added. 'And then I agreed with the judges that he lost the last three rounds. 'When the fight was over, I said it was probably a draw. But I could see the first nine rounds being 6-3, I could see it being 5-4 like one judge had it, and I could see it being 7-2. It looked like it was Manny's fight going into the last three rounds. DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Manny Pacquiao aims to break own record in $3m world title fight
Jeff Mayweather – the uncle of the legendary Floyd Mayweather – said it best this week. Manny Pacquiao is only returning to boxing for the money. But the veteran trainer goes even further, saying the whole promotion of his showdown with Mario Barrios this weekend is skewed in Pacquiao's favour so the Filipino icon can retire as one of the greats. 'I don't know why he's coming back – well I guess I've heard … money – but he's just putting himself out there to retire forever,' Mayweather told Code Sports ahead of Pacquiao's WBC welterweight world title fight with Barrios in Las Vegas this weekend. 'This is all set up, it's for him to win. 'He's making the most money. And Barrios is a young fighter that still has a long time left in the sport and can still become a world champion again. Manny Pacquiao is coming back after a four year lay-off. Picture: PBC Boxing 'This is basically one last shot for Manny.' Pacquiao is a modern boxing great and fought in one of the biggest bouts in the sport's history against Floyd Mayweather. But he's 46 now and hasn't fought in four years. He hasn't even won a fight in six years. Tim Tszyu, who fights Sebastian Fundora in the co-main event, is tipping Barrios to win. 'Age isn't just a number in boxing,' he told Code Sports. 'Even though Manny Pacquiao is Manny Pacquiao, it's a big ask. 'He's a legend and he's cemented his legacy, but he's going in with a young, hungry lion.' He's the only eight division world champion in boxing history, but Pacquiao is a $3.10 underdog against the all action champion Barrios, and if he wins he'll set a new world record as the oldest titleholder in welterweight history. Jeff Mayweather fought Oscar de la Hoya. Picture: The Ring Magazine via Getty Images He already holds that record, set when he scored a split decision win over Keith Thurman in July 2019. The idea that Pacquiao – as great as he is – is allowed to come out of retirement and immediately land a world title shot, has rubbed many boxing people the wrong way. 'It seems unfair to me how this was done,' Mayweather said. 'Manny hasn't fought in four years, yet he gets an immediate title shot. 'That's not right. 'You have fighters that are in that weight class, and ranked one, two, three and four. 'But this man came from retirement and took all that thunder. 'Anyone who was next in line didn't get their shot.' Pacquiao's Australian trainer, Justin Fortune confirms Mayweather's claims about the mega payday Pacquiao stands to make. And the Los Angeles-based trainer, and former heavyweight contender, says Pacquiao may continue fighting after this weekend. Pacquiao can break his own world record as the oldest welterweight world champion this weekend. Picture: PBC Boxing 'If they offered you a lot of money, you'd fight too,' Fortune told Code Sports after Pacquiao fronted a huge press conference at the MGM Grand on Thursday. Fortune says it's not just Pacquiao cashing in, but Barrios too. And anyone else who fights him. 'The offers will come, and they'll come from a lot of fighters – they all want the payday,' he said. 'It's called prize fighting for a reason. 'You're there for the money, and right now, Pacquiao's the money. 'I would imagine (he'll keep fighting) but we just need to get through this bloke first. 'Manny's had a good camp, he's listened and he's done his stuff. He's listened to his body, he's fast, strong and he's happy.' Brendan Bradford Content producer Brendan Bradford is a sports writer for CODE Sports. He primarily covers combat sports, league, union, cycling and athletics. Brendan has worked in sports media for a decade, covering world title fights, World Cups, Grand Slams and Spring Tours. @1bbradfo Brendan Bradford
The Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Ex-Manny Pacquiao rival urges him to retire as he makes shock claim about comeback fight
Manny Pacquiao 's old rival Tim Bradley has called for him to head back into retirement after insisting his 'time is up' following his comeback fight against Mario Barrios last weekend. Pacquiao returned from a four-year absence to hold Barrios to a majority draw in their WBC welterweight title fight as he almost became a world champion again at 46. However, Bradley, who faced Pacquiao three times between 2012 and 2016, was not particularly impressed and has made a shock claim that Barrios went easy on the Filipino legend. Speaking on his own YouTube channel, Bradley said: 'I'm going to keep it real, Manny Pacquiao's time has been up. You know the fact that he's a special type of athlete, he's a legend, he's able to get in there with Mario Barrios who basically somewhat carried this guy, man, he carried Manny Pacquiao. 'I don't care what anybody say, he carried him. Yes, all he had to do was step on the gas especially in the middle, the back end of the fight where he's the younger fighter. 'He has more energy, he could have gave more effort because obviously he got hit with some straight left hands and he was able to take it but it didn't seem like he wanted to.' Bradley holds a controversial win over Pacquiao, having beaten him via split decision 13 years ago. But Pacquiao outpointed him in the next two meetings to edge their rivalry. Bradley's second defeat by Pacquiao was his last professional fight as he retired a two weight-world champion with 33 wins from 37 bouts. Pacquiao has now had 73 fights and has no intention of stopping yet, despite Bradley's comments. He has welcomed a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, while Ryan Garcia and WBA welterweight titlist Rolando 'Rolly' Romero have also thrown their names into the mix to take on 'Pac Man' next. DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
CBC
6 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Time is undefeated, but Venus Williams and Manny Pacquiao display how athletes can age gracefully
Social Sharing Eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao used ring I.Q. and boxing geometry to overcome height and reach deficits in his title fight against Mario Barrios, earning a controversial draw against a bigger, stronger, harder-hitting opponent. And if you think we're re-heating headlines from the Pac Man's late-2000s heyday, think again. That bout happened last Saturday in Las Vegas. Barrios, the World Boxing Council welterweight champion, is 30. Pacquiao, who last fought in August 2021, will be 47 in December. If he had edged out one more round on two judges' scorecards, he'd have become the first boxer in history to win world titles in four different decades. Even if he didn't defeat Barrios, Pacquiao earned a victory over age and expectations. Three days later Venus Williams, 45, ended two year layoff from pro tennis, entered the D.C. Open as a wildcard, and dispatched Peyton Stearns, a player roughly half her age, to reach the round of 16. These back-to-back triumphs for 80s babies offer more than a glimmer of hope for those of us old enough to wake up with aches we can't explain. They're more like a beacon, and a compelling argument against one of the most rock-solid axioms in sport and life. If time really is undefeated, how do you explain this weekend? Easily. But if we look at Pacquiao and Williams' performances as self-awareness success stories, and case studies in the value of choosing your opportunities wisely, we might learn something from these last few days. First, let's acknowledge that Pacquiao and Williams defied recent sports medicine trends just by reaching the arena in one piece. We just finished watching an NBA Playoffs in which two star players younger than age 30 – Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum – suffered a ruptured achilles tendon, an injury we normally associate with advanced age and high mileage. The third NBA star to tear his achilles tendon this post-season, Damian Lillard, turned 35 last week. Age matters at the extremes Against the backdrop, watching Pacquiao and Williams roll back the odometer looks even more impressive. They both turned pro during Bill Clinton's first term as president. If you can't remember that far back, that's the point. This kind of longevity might not be unprecedented, but it's rare. Let's also keep in mind that age matters at the extremes. It's why a 9.8 sprinter can stroll unrecognized through most U.S. cities, but a high schooler who breaks 10-flat becomes a minor internet celebrity. And it's why masters sports group athletes into cohorts that span five years, accounting for a sort of reverse puberty. In terms of strength and muscle mass, 55 and 60 years old are as different as 15 and 20. Age classifications matter, so when middle-aged athletes enter open competition, we're right to view their performances through the prism of their age. That's why so many people are classifying Pacquiao's draw against Barrios, a competitive fight by the stats, as a robbery. Barrios landed more punches, but if you think the intangibles favoured Pacquiao it's reasonable to see those two factors evening out to produce a draw. But Pacquiao, as we noted, is 46. At that age, even people who train daily are more likely to have arthritis than visible abs. Barrios, a top-ranked welterweight 16 years Pacquiao's junior, should have handled him, but Pacquiao kept rallying and landing punches and weathering Barrios' offence. It wasn't the fight most of us envisioned. There's a difference, however, outperforming expectations, which Pacquiao did, and winning a fight, which he didn't. There's also a gap between winning a bout, which one judge said Barrios did, and winning convincingly. But if you factor in Pacquiao's age, simply keeping pace with Barrios seems like a win. With Williams, there's no "seems like." She took the first set 6-3, and the second 6-4, so there's nothing to debate, not even whether Peak Venus Williams would have dispatched Stearns even more quickly. We're still discussing an all-time great, after all. Timing is everything But this weekend's results aren't evidence that Pacquiao and Williams have figured out how to freeze time. It's the opposite. Their success shows they've made smart adjustments for the aging process. You'll note, for example, that Pacquiao's surprise draw and Williams' convincing win came on night one, fresh off long layoffs. Given what we understand now about the art, science, and importance of recovery for older athletes, we know Pacquiao and Williams entered these contests with fully charged batteries, and would likely feel different on the last day of a long season. Which is to say, for those of us trying to perform physically even though we're closer to 50 than we are to 40, timing matters. And so do opponents. Stearns is an NCAA champ, which makes her several echelons better than the best tennis player reading this column. But she also competes in a sport where most elites turn pro instead of playing in college. By her age, Williams was already a nine-year veteran of the WTA tour. Williams is on the downside now, but even her current plateau hovers above most people's ceiling. As for Pacquiao – he chose Barrios for a reason. Among the current champions at 147 pounds, Barrios has the most glaring shortcomings. Defence is one, and a lack of home-run punching power is another. On fight night we learned he was also startstruck, reluctant to let his hands go when he had Pacquiao stunned, and willing to abandon half his offence when Pacquiao complained to the referee about body punches that appeared legal. Pacquiao made it clear that he didn't want Barrios punching him in the stomach, and Barrios, for large stretches of the fight, complied. If Pacquiao had chosen Brian Norman Jr., the hard-hitting W.B.O. champion, for his comeback fight, we'd be looking at one of two outcomes – peeling Pacquiao off the canvas or retrieving him from the rafters. Norman hits that hard. But if you're staying active deep into middle age, and trying to find inspiration in Pacquiao and Williams' success, that's the point. It's not just okay to scale back your goals and challenges. It's smart. Pacquiao is as unlikely to unify the welterweight title as Williams is to capture another Grand Slam, but it doesn't matter. They're still overperforming relative to the restraints that age places on all of us, and highlighting one more distinction few of us had considered until now. The one between aging gracefully and aging forcefully.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Former Manny Pacquiao opponent reveals major factor that can help him stun Mario Barrios
Chris Algieri, who fought Manny Pacquiao in 2014, believes the Filipino's power gives him a puncher's chance against Mario Barrios on Saturday. The former super-lightweight champion told FightHype that Pacquiao will not be the same fighter as he was all those years ago. Age waits for no man, but Pacquiao's power will allow him to remain competitive against Barrios. Algieri said: 'Father time is undefeated, and I can't expect Manny to be the guy he was when I fought him 11 years ago or the guy who fought Marquez the second time 15 years ago. He's going to be a different fighter. He continued: 'The factor that Manny Pacquiao can punch makes him able to fight a little bit longer. You see the guys that go on a little longer, it's usually the guys that can punch. You have that power, that eraser like George Foreman did in his 40s.' Drawing a comparison to Bernard Hopkins, Algieri said that Pacquiao would not be able to replicate how Hopkins adapted his game to his age and instead that his only asset in the fight will be his power. Algieri explained: 'A guy like Bernard Hopkins, who is super scrappy, who learned how to fight in spots and control the ring. Manny's not that guy. He's more of a puncher guy. He has an opportunity because of his power.' Against a fighter like Barrios, however, this may be exactly what Pacquiao needs to upset the odds and become the WBC welterweight champion at 46. Algieri believes that Barrios is often too easy to catch with a shot because he likes to engage his opponents up close, which can leave him vulnerable. Algieri said: 'Barrios is a warrior - he likes to engage. He's going to be there to hit at times, so it does give Manny more of a chance.' He concluded: 'But in terms of age, it does concern me.' Watch Usyk versus Dubois 2 live and exclusive on DAZN PPV this Saturday - July 19 - for £24.99 UK; $59.99 US; $19.99/equivalent ROW. Buy the PPV now here
