Philippines, 24 Aug 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Good Fortune for Manny


PhilBoxing.com





Australian strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune said yesterday Manny Pacquiao is ready to go 12 rounds in battling WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, on July 19 but isn’t discounting the possibility of a knockout win.

“Manny’s power is intact and it’s God’s gift,” said Fortune who has worked with Pacquiao since 2003. “He’s always in shape, he’s as strong as ever. Of course, it could go the distance. Nobody wants to get knocked out and Barrios is the world champion. But Barrios thinks he can walk all over an old man. That’s not going to happen.”

Fortune said Barrios is beatable and isn’t in the same class as the welterweight champions of the recent past like Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Oscar de la Hoya. “This new generation of 147-pound champs isn’t the same as before,” he said. “Barrios is slow, flat-footed. Still, he’s a warrior and if he gets hit, he’ll strike back. He’ll stand up and fight.”

The other day, Pacquiao sparred 12 rounds at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, taking on 5-10 undefeated lightweight Darrial Kuchmenov in six and 5-11 welterweight Saul Bustos in six. “Manny wasn’t even breathing hard,” said Fortune. “Those guys are good fighters who’re tall like Barrios.” Kuchmenov, 22, has a 9-0 record, with 7 KOs while Bustos, 31, is 15-2-1, with 8 KOs.

“The key is not to overtrain and burn out,” said Fortune. “You know Manny, he always asks for more rounds so we pull him back. It’s about quality over quantity. We don’t talk about the (Yordenis) Ugas fight. All is forgotten. The camp for Ugas was chaotic. Too many distractions and Manny was running for president the next year. He had things on his mind. Bad timing for a fight but that’s in the past. Things are different now. Camp has been terrific.”

It was Pacquiao who reached out to Fortune to reunite with his team. “We’re all back together, Freddie (Roach), Buboy (Fernandez) and Manny’s working as hard as ever,” said Fortune.

Photo: Justin Fortune (with his 8-year-old twins Cayden and Sophie) watches over Manny Pacquiao in an outdoor workout in LA (photo by Jhay Otamias).



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • ALOYSIUS YAPP CLAIMS LONG-AWAITED US OPEN CROWN
    , Sun, 24 Aug 2025
  • Don King Productions Moving Forward With October 4th WBA World Heavyweight Showdown
    , Sun, 24 Aug 2025
  • Controversial Judges from Pacquiao-Barrios Fight Tapped for Canelo-Crawford Showdown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 23 Aug 2025
  • Levinson’s Gift: Runyon’s quiet revelation, Lawton’s last battle, and the first Filipino boxer
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 23 Aug 2025
  • Rodrigo to challenge undefeated Sandoval in US
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 23 Aug 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Call to Action 12 Items for Boxers' Safety
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • Libranza vs Pangga headlines Elorde card on Aug 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • GM Antonio to compete in P100,000 top prize Rapid chessfest this Sunday in Roxas City, Capiz Province
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • AISAT Basic Ed football training starts
    By Kim delos Reyes-Teves, , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • Josh Navarro Scores Another Win in Pomona, California
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • UNDEFEATED CRIZTIAN PITT LAURENTE SET TO FACE HEBI MARAPU FOR IBF PAN PACIFIC TITLE
    , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • Dare To Enter: Undefeated WBC Interim Champion Vergil Ortiz to Defend Super Welterweight Title From Number 1 Contender Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin
    , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • Euri Cedeno Takes on Willie Jones on Friday, September 5th at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA
    , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • COE AND HART CLASH ON BOOTS ENNIS CARD IN PHILADELPHIA
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • ‘There's nothing that he brings to the table that I've not got an answer for’ Sam Rennie on upcoming fight at Thunderdome 51
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • JAMAINE "THE TECHNICIAN" ORTIZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • Gervonta Davis vs. Jake Paul: Exhibition Bout Announced for November
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • Legendary boxing coach John Brown Compares cornering Tommy Morrison & Rising young star Marco Romero
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • World Kid to Host Meet-and-Greet and Open Workouts In advance of “The Return” on August 31 in Detroit
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • Assassin’s Creed: Brian Norman Jr. Signs Multi-Year Contract Extension with Top Rank
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • Five Philippine FIDE Masters are scheduled to arrive in Roxas City
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • Boxing Promotional Powerhouse Top Rank Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday, September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 12: MUHAMMAD ALI LOSSES THEN WINS AGAINST KEN NORTON
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 20 Aug 2025
  • Pasig and Quezon City top 1st PCAP Rated Open championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 Aug 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford Full Fight Card Revealed
    , Wed, 20 Aug 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.