Mario Barrios has faced some of boxing’s biggest names, but the reigning WBC welterweight world champion has admitted that the power of 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao took him by surprise when they fought in July.
Barrios outpointed Botirzhon Akhmedov to claim the WBA super-lightweight world title in 2019 but made just one defence of the belt before a first career defeat to Gervonta Davis cost him the throne in 2021.
Despite defeat to Keith Thurman upon his next outing, Barrios bounced back with three straight victories and was upgraded to WBC welterweight champion last year, drawing in both of his title defences since against Abel Ramos and Manny Pacquiao.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Barrios declared that he realised he was in a tougher fight than many had predicted after sharing just one round with ‘Pac Man’, who had fought only once in six years beforehand and said both the Filipino legend and Davis could ‘crack’.
“I don’t compare power a lot. Pacquiao can definitely crack, Tank [Davis] can definitely crack – that’s one of the few fights where I have touched the canvas, but yeah that old man [Pacquiao] is strong.
“Oh, [I realised Pacquiao could still punch] from round one.”
‘El Azteca’ now hopes to register a first win as WBC champion, in what will be a third attempted defence of the crown, as he takes on Ryan Garcia on Saturday, February 21.
