Mario Barrios vs Manny Pacquiao: Ex-World Champion Slams Barrios’ Quality

At the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on July 19, Mario Barrios vs Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) will headline a PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view fight card. Barrios will defend his WBC welterweight title against 46-year-old Pacquiao. The “Pac man” returns to action for his first professional fight in four years, and former world champion Paulie Malignaggi has not held back on his view on Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) when speaking to Spin Genie.

Mario Barrios vs Manny Paquiao Set for July 19 in Las Vegas

Barrios’ Level Criticised Before July 19 Showdown

Pacquiao returns to the ring for the first time since his 2021 defeat in 2021 to Yordenis Ugas. Pacquiao was last seen in action last year when the Filipino legend was outboxed in an exhibition fight against Rukiya Anpo.

The return of “Pac Man” has split opinion in the boxing world with some feeling that given his history she should be able to do as he pleases, while others feel, he should not be anywhere near a professional boxing ring at 46 years old.

Speaking to Spin Genie, Malignaggi did not hold back when discussing Pacquiao: “I question whether Pacquiao was ever clean to begin with, so I, personally, don’t think he’s going to show up clean for this fight, either, but at 46 it may not matter.

“It also depends on the kind of damage you’ve taken in your career. Pacquiao was a high impact fighter. He was not a defensive specialist, so typically those kinds of fighters fade out early. 

“The fact that he didn’t fade out so early, despite fighting in that high impact style. I told you what I think the reason is. Because usually fighters like that fade out early.”

Mario Barrios vs Manny Pacquiao: Malignaggi Blasts Barrios

Barrios is the current WBC world champion, but that has not convinced Malignaggi: “But I don’t think Mario Barrios is very good. I think he’s very, very low, level champion, very low. He’s very beatable, and I also think that that’s another reason why Pacquaio cherry picked him,” said the former IBF super lightweight champion. 

“He may be the worst welterweight champion I’ve ever seen.”