THE trainer of World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios didn’t deny saying Manny Pacquiao could either end up in a hospital or cemetery in their coming title fight this weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
But Bob Santos insisted he has a valid reason for saying so.
Aware that a lot of Filipino fight fans took exception to his words, Santos tried to clear the air on Thursday (Manila time) when Pacquiao and Barrios came face-to-face for the last time prior to their championship match on Saturday.
READ Prime Barrios harboring ‘bad intentions’ vs 46-year old Pacquiao
“I tell you, if that’s not our mindset against Manny Pacquiao, we’re gonna be in a hospital or cemetery because he’s an absolute assassin, he’s an absolute killer,” explained the veteran trainer from San Jose, California.
‘If you do not have the kill-or-be-killed mindset with him, it’s good night, Irene,” added Santos. “Manny always had the mindset of kill or be killed.”
To be honest, it’s more of a psy war on the part of Barrios’ camp as Santos admitted having worked with Pacquiao in the past at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.
Santos once managed former world two-division champion Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero, who also happened to train at the famous sweatshop in Vine Street owned by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach where Pacquiao is based when he’s in the U.S.
“I know Manny very well. We did a lot of sparring sessions with Manny at the Wild Card so nobody’s more respectful of Pacquiao than me,” said Santos, who was the 2022 Trainer of the Year by The Ring and Sports Illustrated.
Santos described the 46-year-old Filipino challenger as the nicest guy in boxing, who can easily transform into a beast once he’s inside the ring.
“Manny has never disrespected me or Robert Guerrero, but once you step into the ring, you better get ready,” he said.
It’s the reason why Barrios, 30, isn’t taking chances against his challenger who is 16 years older than him.
“I think this is the hardest camp Mario Barrios had in his career,” said Santos.
Despite his advanced age, Pacquiao, considered as one of the greatest fighters of his generation, remains as deadly as ever, Santos said.
'Biggest killer in the ring'
“He’s very damaging, Look at (Oscar) Dela Hoya, (Antonio) Margarito,” he said while mentioning fighters previously demolished by Pacquiao during his prime.
“He’s the biggest killer in the ring, even more so in the sense than Mike Tyson,” Santos added. “If you don’t knock him out, you’re gonna take a lot of damn punishment in that fight.”
Pacquiao sports a 62-8-2 record with 39 KOs, while Barrios is at 29-2-1 with 18 knockouts.
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