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Bernard Hopkins Backs Manny Pacquiao To Make History, Upset Mario Barrios
Interview
Anson Wainwright
Anson Wainwright
RingMagazine.com
Bernard Hopkins Backs Manny Pacquiao To Make History, Upset Mario Barrios
One boxing legend backs another.

Former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins is the oldest man to ever win a world title at 49.

He is no stranger to success, having extended his own record when scoring a 12-round split decision win over Beibut Shumenov in April 2014.

Manny Pacquiao, boxing's only eight-division world champion, will return after a near four-year retirement at 46 when challenging WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios at Las Vegas' MGM Grand on July 19.

If Pacquiao, a 5/2 (plus-250) underdog, is able to upset the Mexican-American champion, he would become the second-oldest fighter to win a world title behind Hopkins. The man himself is backing the Filipino icon, 16 years Barrios' junior, to emerge victorious.


"I'm rooting for Manny because I know if anyone can do it, it's him," Hopkins told The Ring. "I think Barrios is a B-plus [fighter]. I believe, yes, [Pacquiao's] got some mileage on him, yes, he's politically mentally tied in, but he has the speed, he has the experience to get the upset.

"As a matter of fact, Manny could beat him by decision. He won't get the stoppage."

Pacquiao-Barrios, plus undercard bouts, will be broadcast on Amazon Prime at 8 p.m. ET/ 1 a.m. GMT next Saturday. 


Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on Twitter@AnsonWainwr1ght

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