Manny Pacquiao has first half of the fight to win vs Barrios, says veteran analyst

If Manny Pacquiao wants to become a world champion again at 46 years old, he has to do it in a hurry inside the ring, according to veteran boxing analyst Atty Ed Tolentino.

A veteran of 72 fights and the only eight-division champion in boxing history, Pacquiao is slated to end his four-year hiatus when he takes on the WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 18 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Though an underdog, Tolentino says Pacquiao has a shot at reclaiming boxing glory.

“Manny Pacquiao is a live underdog. He has to start early; he would be at his best in the first half of the fight. Remember Keith Thurman? He started early, scored a knockdown, but in the second half, he showed his age,” Tolentino said in an interview on Sparring Sessions LIVE.

“In the second half, when his age shows, that would give Barrios confidence, so show up right away early. Try to get a hot start. He has a good shot, especially if he starts early.”

Many have expressed their concern about Pacquiao’s ring return, citing how the Filipino ring icon is up there in age. Despite Barrios being 16 years younger, Tolentino predicts that the former would not be careless in the early going.

“I do not think Barrios will try to ambush, although I see Barrios testing the body of Pacquiao because he knows he is rusty and may test the body,” Tolentino said.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News