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Marie Bakoyao, left, and WBC weight hero Mario Barius at a press conference Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
For more Pacquiao and Barrios stories: Pacquiao files
Las Vegas – Manni Bacoyao is not spring chicken. And with what is said, he has no luxury slow starting in the battle of his return against WBC Welterweight Mario Barrios on Saturday.
The eight advanced Filipino world champion cannot turn the key whenever he wants in 46 years a young man against a hero in his physical beginning.
Read: Bacoyao returned, but how did he come back? The Battle of the title will reveal everything
“If Mane can make a major statement in the first round, I think this would dictate what is happening in the rest of the battle,” said Sean Gibbons, the right man in Bakoyao, on Thursday. “[Although] I think it can be two ways. It might be like the battle of (Keith) Thurman, as it changed the fully outlook of the battle. “
Against Keith Thurman in 2019, Pacquiao instantly created his land by scoring a knockout in the first round before obtaining a decision division and WBA belt.
“If he feels it and I and I have a feeling of feeling, I think they will really start to escalate it,” Gibbons said. “I think Parius will be respectful, he wants to see what Mane Bacoyao has in front of him. Mani still wants to let Parius know” hey, I am Mane Bacoyao … I’m here. “
Read: Mane Pacoyao vs Mario Barius: “A true battle, a comprehensive war”
Gibbons added that Thorman was a threat to more than Bacoyao more than Barrius, who would ever become a bold Bubuy Fernandez when the veteran coach predicted the early victory in the knockout by the eight semmer’s champion.
“Well, Bobuy knows. Bobuy is his coach. I mean, Mario Barrius is to hit,” he said. “So at any moment, Mani Bacoyao can extinguish the lights. As he did with Thorman, a few shots fall.
“Mario Barius is an easier battle than Keith Thurman because it comes to the battle,” explained Gibbons. “Keith Thurman was a very difficult battle. So I was able to see Mani ending it in one way like that. You know three rounds … The first half of the battle is the place that has more shots to end it.”
Indeed, Pacquiao spent the last two days with the official story on Friday.
“The past two past. It has been great at the moment. I was in the room with Mane yesterday,” Let It Be “was playing on the piano. It is very comfortable and now comfortable at this moment.”
Cold baking, calm, and gathering usually means a problem for the opponent.
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“It is his experience. He was on the big stage before,” Gibbons continued, before he praised the final praise. “He flourishes these moments. I love to put Mani Pacoyao with Cuban Bryant and Michael Jordan, a man. These are the moments they live. These are the moments for which they work.
“He is just ready. So I really think on Saturday night, if he can go down, he has got strength, and has speed, you will see a very explosive evening.”