NLEX, Blackwater panalo sa pagbubukas ng Kadayawan Tournament
6
Mario Barrios, magiging maingat pa rin sa laban kontra Pacquiao
Jet Hilario
Naniniwala si World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios na hindi basta basta ang makakalaban niya sa susunod na Linggo.
Pero kahit sino pa man, hindi nito kaaawaan ang kanyang makakalaban. Idedepensa nito ang kanyang suot na korona laban sa “Pambansang Kamao” ng Pilipinas na si Manny Pacquiao.
Itinuturing ni Barrios na “Killier” ang kanyang kalaban, pero nangako ito na hindi siya magpapakumpiyansa laban kay Pacquiao na 16-anyos ang tanda sa kanya.
“If the roles were reversed, Pacquiao wouldn’t try to take it easy on me,” sabi ni Barrios.
“He’s not going to feel sorry for me in there. It’s just the reality of the sport. I am ready to defend my title by any means necessary,” dagdag pa nito.
Kaya naman, magiging maingat ang 30-anyos na si Barrios sa pagharap sa dating eight-division world champion.
“It’s kill or be killed in there. I have to go in there and make sure my hand is raised by any means necessary, whether it’s by knockout or by decision. He has age. I have to be ready for whatever he brings,” ani Barrios.
Hindi rin umano ito magpapa apekto sa legendary status at mabait na personalidad ni Pacquiao at plano rin niyang muling ibalik sa retirement ang boxing legend.
“He’s such a likable dude. It’s hard to be like, ‘Man, I’m about to square up with him for my title.’ But I am going in there with bad intentions. I am trying to get him out of there,” ani Barrios.
Tatapusin din ni Barrios ang inaasam ni Pacquiao na gumawa ng panibagong rekord at kasaysayan na muling maging pinakamatandang kampeon sa 147-pound division.
Matatandaang minsan na ring inamin ng kampo ni Barrios, lalo na ang kanyang trainer na si Bob Santos na plano na nilang tuldukan ang pananalasa ni Pacman.
“Pacquiao, you had your time, now it’s El Azteca’s time. We appreciate the run, but it’s his time. But it’s not that Manny Pacquiao doesn’t have the hand speed, the foot speed, we’ve seen it all that, obviously, he’s got an IQ and has the experience. But this man is hungry, determined, and he’s gonna take it to the next level, he’s gonna prove that like I said on July 19th,” saad naman ni Santos.
