The promoter Eddie Hearn says the draw of Manny Pacquiao against the WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios last Saturday night was more about the fact that Barrios is not an ‘elite level’ fighter.
Hearn points out that Barrios (29-2, 18 COs) struggled to a 12-round last year against Abel Ramos, a veteran, and he felt he had lost the battle. He believes that Pacquiao would have been out of his depth if he “Boots” Ennis or Brian Norman Jr. Chose to fight for a world title at 147.
Pacquiao Draw proves Barrios
“It has more to do with Mario Barrios,” did Eddie Hearn to the mediaand respond to the 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao who comes out of the pension to fight Mario Barrios to a 12 round. ‘Imagine that Brian Norman would do to Pacquiao or’ Boots’ (Ennis) to do pacquiao.
It would be a massacre for Pacquiao to Boots Ennis or Brian Norman jr. Start fighting. The guys are on a level other than Barrios. Pacquiao would not have been able to rounds against Ennis or Norman Jr.
What would happen is the same as we saw when Manny cold was beaten by Juan Manuel Marquez in the sixth round in their fourth fight on December 8, 2012. Boots and Norman jr. Would have come to Pacquiao much earlier than Marquez, and it wouldn’t need the perfect shot to do the job. They would cut him with simple shots.
“Barrios has just entered the Jake Paul card (against Abel Ramos). I thought he had lost the fight. I was on the side. It was horrible. It’s not elite. It’s not the world championship. Listen, respect for Pacquiao. He went in there after five years and got a draw against a world champion,” said.
Pacquiao Wise Barrios Pick
Barrio’s horrible performance against travel man Abel Ramos last November was a clear sign that he is not a world championship caliber. The only reason he got his hands on the WBC welterweight title is that he was elevated to that position outside the ring. If he had to fight one of the top contenders for the belt, he would probably have lost.
Pacquiao and his management knew what they were doing to choose Barrios for him to fight for a world title at 147. They are not going to WBO champion Brian Norman Jr. Or Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis when he still held the IBF and WBA 147-LB titles. They chose well and selected a vulnerable champion who sent his belt in Barrios by email.
Last updated on 07/20/2025
