This Saturday, July 19, boxing will deliver a truly outstanding variety of fights. Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois. Bam Rodriguez vs. Phumelele Cafu. Sebastian Fundora vs. Tim Tszyu. Isaac Cruz vs. Omar Salcido. Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios. The last one seems like a dream, but it’s really happening.
Nearly four years after his last professional bout, Pacquiao will return to the ring as a 46-year-old, in search for the WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios stands in his way, and Pacquiao is currently a +210 underdog. Pacquiao has more fans behind him than when the fight was first announced, but most still think Barrios will come away victorious. And there’s one big reason why, aside from the age gap.
Mario Barrios towers over Manny Pacquiao in final face-off before WBC welterweight championship
Pacquiao and Barrios had their final weigh-ins on Friday, and with it came a final face-off. Despite Pacquiao actually coming in 0.6 pounds heavier than Barrios, fans couldn’t help but be stunned once again by the height difference between the two.
Barrios stands six feet tall, while Pacquiao is only 5-foot-5. Although height was never really an issue for PacMan throughout his career, that disadvantage in a time where his skills are not what they once were, could be deadly.
Many noted that Pacquiao looked particularly strong at the weigh-in, putting to bed some doubts about his physical shape. Pacquiao seems to have his body more than ready to go, but he’s stepping in against a opponent with a lot of advantages.
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