Manny motors to Vegas
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 14 Jul 2025
Manny Pacquiao leaves for Las Vegas at 3 pm today (California time), taking a long drive from Los Angeles to keep his appointment with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time).
Pacquiao is exactly at the weight his strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune wants him four days before the weigh-in on the eve of the scheduled 12-round bout. Fortune said Pacquiao scaled 149 pounds, only two over the welterweight limit, the other day.
In a video call from LA, Pacquiao said the intensity in training for Barrios is the same as when he prepared for fights against the likes of Oscar de la Hoya, Keith Thurman and Ricky Hatton. “Hard to compare but it’s the same intense training at nagagawa ko pa rin ang pagakyat sa Hollywood sign,” he said. “Ang ginawa kong adjustment ngayon, not like before, ay body recovery para hindi mag-burn out.”
Not taking Barrios lightly, Pacquiao said he always anticipates the best from his opponents. “I expect my opponents na may power, speed at stamina,” he said. “I don’t think that short sila sa stamina or mahina. I always think my opponents are at a high level.” With regard to fighting a taller opponent, Pacquiao said, “ang gameplan ko ay, as usual, na ginagawa ko against matatangkad na kalaban, my strategy against tall opponents like (Antonio) Margarito pero si Barrios faster ng kaunti kaysa kay Margarito.” Barrios has been listed as anywhere between 5-9 1/2 to six feet tall compared to Pacquiao who is between 5-5 1/2 to 5-6.
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