Pacman, bomalabs nang manalo kay Barrios dahil sa edad nito

ni Gerard Arce @Sports News | May 20, 2025

Photo: Manny Pacquiao at Eddie Hearn - FB

Naniniwala ang isang kilalang boxing promoter na mahihirapang magwagi ang nag-iisang 8th-division World champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao laban sa mas batang si reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight titlist Mario “El Azteca” Barrios sa Hulyo.

Bagamat nagsimula ng sumabak sa ensayo ang Filipino boxing legend at kahapon ay dumating na ito sa Los Angeles kasama ang kanyang misis na si Jinkeey Pacquiao para ituloy ang ensayo sa Wildcard gym nakahanay siyang iupo sa International Boxing Hall of Fame sa Hunyo sa New York City,  patuloy namang hindi pumapabor si Matchroom Boxing Promotions head Eddie Hearn na hindi mananalo si Pacquiao kontra Barrios dahil na rin sa edad nito.

“I mean one, he won’t beat Barrios,” pahayag ni Hearn. “And two, I’m not gonna stand here with my righteous hat on and say it’s an absolute disgrace that Pacquiao's fighting, but I just can’t believe you can just literally disappear from boxing for five years, be 46 years old, and be – I think ‘shot’ is disrespectful, but by no means a fighter you were – and just phone up the governing body and go, ‘Stick me in at number five mate.’ It's like, at least put him in at 14, do you know what I mean? Why would you put him at five? Why would you put him in at all?”

Hindi lamang nagdududa si Hearn sa kasalukuyang kapasidad ni Pacquiao laban sa mas batang katunggali. Huli niyang naging laban sa pro  noong Agosto 2021 nang matalo kay Yordenis Ugas ng Cuba sa unanimous decision. Pero hindi niya agad  tinalikuran ang boksing, sumagupa sa magkasunod na exhibition bouts kontra  Korean vlogger DK Yoo at Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo noong 2022 at 2024.