Manny Pacquiao mentioned that his encounter with WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios resembled a simple practice session last Saturday night. Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) observed that Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) didn’t pose a significant challenge. While not exceptionally difficult, it still presented enough of a contest for the judges to deem it a 12-round majority draw.
Pacquiao’s “Practice” Remark
“Yes, akin to practice,” Pacquiao conveyed to Fighthype, in reference to his match against Barrios.
Pacquiao’s statement seemed quite peculiar, considering his visibly bruised and swollen face. If it was merely a practice-like bout, why was Manny’s face marked and inflamed? There was obvious bruising around his eyes. This explains why he was sporting sunglasses post-fight. It wasn’t purely for aesthetic purposes.
“I struggled to award rounds to Barrios. Manny is a very methodical fighter. He executes effectively, utilizing jabs, 1-2 combinations, and consistently leads with a direct left,” Shawn Porter remarked to Sean Zittel, in response to Pacquiao’s outcome against Barrios.
Time has diminished the force that Pacquiao once possessed in his 20s and 30s. Consequently, the impacts he delivered last Saturday night didn’t carry the same weight as those Barrios inflicted upon him.
“I don’t believe Barrios asserted control to seize command at any juncture. If there was a meter, it was consistently leaning in Manny’s favor. I perceive it as improper adjudication. Incompetence, as is often the case, I believe. There are numerous aspects within this realm that I disagree with, and this only intensifies my resolve,” Porter stated.
Barrios Clinches Draw: Scoring Breakdown
It appears Shawn is displeased that his associate, Pacquiao, didn’t secure the victory. Barrios indeed accomplished enough to secure six rounds by outpacing him in strikes. His greater frequency of punches proved sufficient for him to attain the draw. Pacquiao was frequently exposing himself due to his daring fighting approach, and Barrios capitalized on this by impressing the judges with impactful head shots.
“There is no rationale,” Porter commented, when probed about the reasoning behind not awarding Pacquiao the win. “I have little confidence in judges.”
If an individual wasn’t inherently rooting for Pacquiao’s triumph, one could identify six rounds in which Barrios emerged victorious. This explains why he secured a draw. The judges maintained impartiality and had no vested interest in the outcome. They scored the contest as it unfolded. It is the enthusiasts who favored Manny’s win who are disappointed, and Porter, his former training partner, was among them.
“I witnessed more potential than I initially anticipated,” Porter remarked regarding Barrios’ skills. “When considering limitations, I don’t think he reached his full potential. I felt Barrios was capable of more. Specifically, absent body work.”
Barrios’ Game Plan: Holding Back?
It appeared Barrios purposefully remained at a lower intensity throughout the initial nine rounds. When he eventually started deploying his full arsenal in the tenth, he overshadowed Pacquiao, accentuating his age.
Had he engaged with that intensity earlier, it would have been a lopsided contest. Pacquiao’s underwhelming performance wasn’t due to his own actions, but rather because Barrios restrained himself until the concluding rounds.
