MARIO Barrios is a self-confessed Juan Manuel Marquez fan and certainly rooted for the Mexican legend in his long, heated rivalry with Manny Pacquiao.
Now that he’ll be the one in the ring with the Filipino boxing great, the WBC champion is looking to be the modern day Marquez to the unretiring, comebacking Pacquiao.
“I was a huge Marquez fan. I was always a big fan of all those fights (Pacquiao-Marquez). It’s always back and forth,” said Barrios when he finally came face-to-face with 'Pacman' Sunday (Manila time) during the presser at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for their July 19 world welterweight title fight.
“And the way their fight ended.”
That one definitely was high on the list of the 30-year-old Barrios, as Marquez, now retired, finally got his sweet payback against his rival by knocking Pacquiao out cold in the sixth round of their non-title bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas 13 years ago.
It was the lone - but certainly gratifying - win for the Mexican, who previously fought the pride of the Philippines in three championship fights that ended in a split draw, a split decision, and a majority decision.
Strike first. Strike hard.
Barrios, who wasn’t born yet when Pacquiao began his legendary pro career, would like to be as competitive as Marquez was when he climbs the ring against the Filipino six weeks from now at the MGM Grand.
“Now it’s me who’s the one facing him. It’s kind of like a full circle. And it’s crazy being at this point in my career,” said the San Antonio, Texas-born champion.
Despite the age gap – 16 years – and Pacquiao fighting for the first time in four years since retiring in 2021, Barrios said he’s not going to give excessive deference to a boxing legend who’s the only one to win world titles in eight different divisions.
“That’s the main thing. Going there and don’t let him get his rhythm going. I’m not going there taking rounds off. It’s just another fight for me,” said the champ, holder of a 29-2-1 record with 18 KOs.
“It’s kill or be killed on there.”
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