Error code: %{errorCode}
Keith Thurman's Keys to Victory and Prediction for Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios
If there is anyone qualified to break down the Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios fight on Saturday night, it is Keith Thurman.
The former unified welterweight world champion suffered the first and only loss of his career at the hands of Pacquiao via split decision back in July 2019, before defeating Barrios by unanimous decision in February of 2022.
That said, with Pacquiao, 46, attempting a return after nearly a four-year layoff, DAZN News asked Thurman to analyze the keys to victory for both the boxing legend and WBC welterweight titleholder in Barrios, 30, breaking down their fighting tactics prior to clashing at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas this weekend.
Here are Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman’s keys to victory and prediction for the enticing fight.
(The following analysis and prediction are in Thurman’s words as told to DAZN News).
Keith Thurman’s Keys to Victory for Manny Pacquiao
Strength & Conditioning/Preparation
“His preparation and training camp will be a key to victory. Without proper preparation after a long layoff, there’s no way — no matter who you’re fighting — you’re able to establish victory if you don’t establish proper strength and conditioning before the fight.”
Working Angles
“Mario Barrios is a longer fighter so [Pacquiao] is going to have to work those angles and work those quick feet. We don’t know how quick they still are. He’s got to work those quick feet, get in and just do what he’s always done and that’s just be crafty.
“He throws some nice overhand rights and the little right hook and the uppercuts, some body shots … he just needs to punch from the angles that we’re used to seeing from Pacquiao. Combinations, those angles, punches coming from all over the place, I think that’s going to benefit him a lot because Mario Barrios is not the most defensive fighter.”
Power
“We would say speed would be the third [key to victory], but I’m going to go with power. Speed does depreciate with age, speed is one of the first things to go. But power stays for a long time with men. It doesn’t start to degrade until we’re after 55-years-old. I know doctors, I talk with my doctors, that’s how I know these things.
“[Gervonta] ‘Tank’ [Davis] stopped [Barrios], I hurt him on several occasions and if I really wanted to press and do something … my mind wasn’t going for the knockout. I think, maybe potentially going for a knockout for Pacquiao would not just be a key to victory but it’d be a key to allow him to just make a big statement and potentially throw himself back into the world of boxing.”
Keith Thurman’s Keys to Victory for Mario Barrios
Conditioning
“You’re the younger guy, come in shape, come in shape! Make the old man work!"
Work behind the jab from the distance
“The reason why conditioning is such a big thing is because I also want him to work behind the jab. Surprisingly, what I give Mario Barrios props for with our competition is every time you fight a world champion — regardless of how the fight goes — there’s going to be a moment where you realize ‘oh, there’s a reason why this guy got to this level.’
“For me, it was Mario Barrios’ poise in the ring and then his jab. His jab stood out. Luckily for me, I didn’t allow his other punches to stand out. Shawn Porter’s jab didn’t establish itself in my fight. Danny Garcia barely tried to establish the jab. Lots of ex-world champions I’ve faced never could really establish the jab.
"The fact that his jab is something I remember in the fight, that it was making a bit of a statement, I really think he could constantly use that against Pacquiao with the reach advantage. Move, keep that distance, work behind the jab and make Pacquiao use those legs. Let’s see what those 46-year-old legs have. Make him work to get in, stay long. When [Yordenis] Ugas fought Pacquiao, he kept him on the outside and it wasn’t favorable to Pacquiao. So, I really believe that’s a key to victory from Mario Barrios.”
Fight your gameplan
“If a knockout’s there, a knockout’s there. A lot of people are going to say ‘oh, he knocked out a 46-year-old Pacquiao. Oh, he went the distance with a 46-year-old Pacquiao.’ At the end of the day, look, it’s a lose-lose. There’s nothing positive if you knock him out, go the distance, so whatever you and your team have been putting together for this weekend, just do your best to establish that and stick to it. Don’t worry about what they say, don’t worry about the comments section — be you and have a good fight.”
Keith Thurman’s prediction for Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios
“I actually lean towards Mario Barrios and the reason is because Pacquiao did not look good when he went to fight Ugas who kept him on the outside. And the difference when he fought Ugas and he fought myself was, Manny Pacquiao was very active the time he fought me. Even though he had aged, he had activity, [three fights in a year span]. That helped him.
“When he came back against Ugas, we all were inactive due to the COVID layoff and he just was not at the high-performance Manny Pacquiao. He’s had some exhibition fight [July 2024], he hasn’t been fully inactive but he’s just been doing some playful things — not fighting a world champion, not fighting the young fighters at the top of the sport like he’s about to do Saturday night.
“So I actually lean towards Mario Barrios because I do not like Manny Pacquiao coming off of layoffs. I have not seen great performances but if he’s going to shock us, he’s going to shock us with what I believe is the power that he’ll still carry at 46-years-old.”
Usyk vs Dubois 2 only on DAZN
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.
