LAS VEGAS – As one of just two men to have fought both Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios, Keith Thurman is well placed to pontificate on their Saturday clash at the MGM Grand.
In 2019, a 40-year-old Pacquiao knocked Thurman down in the first round of their bout and inflicted upon him a split-decision loss, the only defeat of Thurman’s career. Two and a half years later, Thurman scored a unanimous decision win over Barrios. He hurt Barrios multiple times but was unable to force a stoppage, and faced some resistance in the eighth round when Barrios stung him with a body shot that forced him into retreat.
Speaking to PPV.com, Thurman opined that Pacquiao will be aiming to take advantage of Barrios’ relatively porous defense.
“Due to that, the doors are slightly open,” he said. “You’re gonna be able to find some pockets.”
There is one big question mark, of course. Or rather, there are 46 of them.
“At 46 years old, is [Pacquiao] gonna get in that position?” asked Thurman rhetorically. “And are his punches gonna pop? Is there gonna be a delay? You know, there’s an old saying in boxing: You get old overnight. You go to sleep, you wake up, you’re just not the same. Well, this is biology, people. It’s got nothing to do with athleticism. That’s why we always wonder: Is he there yet? Is he done?”
There is, of course, precedent for someone of Pacquiao’s age becoming a world champion.
“Bernard Hopkins was world champion at 48 years old,” Thurman noted. “He defended his world title at 50 years old successfully. This is not unprecedented, what Manny Pacquiao is trying to do. It's just very tough.”
On top of Pacquiao’s age, Thurman is concerned about the Filipino’s long layoff.
“See, what people misunderstand about Thurman’s loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2019 was Manny Pacquiao was very active at the time,” said Thurman, referring to himself in the third person as is his wont. “He was coming off two recent fights, and rolled into the fight with me in July. And then after COVID and the layoff, his performance against Ugas wasn’t as spectacular. And now this is another long layoff, and that’s what makes me worried about Pacquiao and his overall performance.”
For all these reasons, Thurman feels that Barrios “has a good opportunity.”
“Mario Barrios has a good jab,” he said. “He needs to establish that jab. Take some notes out of the Ugas fight. Keep that distance. Make the old man use those legs and show us how well he’s been doing his road work and the treadmill, and if he’s still got pep in the step.”
