Fortune tells: Manny Pacquiao by stoppage
FILE — Manny Pacquiao and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune. Photos by Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions
MANILA, Philippines–It’s been four years since Manny Pacquiao last appeared in a pro fight and more than half a decade since his last taste of victory.
Still, that won’t keep longtime strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune from delivering a daring prediction when the Filipino ring icon makes his comeback to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
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“I think it’s a stoppage. It won’t go the distance,” said Fortune, who reunited with Pacquiao in Los Angeles, in an interview with EsNews.
The Australian coach thinks Pacquiao, 46, hasn’t changed much throughout the years.
“Listen, on the mitts and bags, they don’t punch back, but he (Pacquiao) looks the same as he did six or seven years ago. He hasn’t missed a beat.”
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Fortune is also suspect of Barrios’ ability to protect himself and sees Pacquiao exploiting that weakness come fight night.
“Barrios gets hit a lot, and Pacquiao is the last person you want to get hit a lot by. [Barrios] puffs a lot. Once you puff up, once you swell up and this guy (Pacquiao) hits you in the head, he starts a cut,” Fortune said.
The 30-year-old Barrios (29-2-1, 18KOs) is the odds-on favorite against Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39KOs), who hasn’t fought professionally since August 2021 when he lost the WBA title to Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas.
