Barrios struggles finding Pacquiao clones

World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Mario Barrios admitted during his open workout on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) that getting somebody to simulate Manny Pacquiao’s style has proven to be difficult and extremely challenging.

“He brings in something different. His style is not an easy style to replicate. And with us during sparring, it’s hard to find somebody who fights the way Pacquiao fights. That’s one of the things why he is so successful,” said Barrios, who tangles with the 46-year-old Filipino eight-division legend on 19 July in Las Vegas.

But Barrios, taller by six inches at six-feet and younger by 16 years, is not allowing any of these issues to mess up his plans for a resounding victory at the MGM Grand.

The Texas native insists that while he acknowledges Pacquiao’s accomplishments, he is going into the scheduled 12-rounder with a Mamba Mentality.

“I am not training with the mentality that I am fighting an icon, fighting a legend. At the end of the day, he’s just another man trying to fight for my title. I respect everything that he has done for the sport, even the person that he is outside the ring. But come fight night, all the respect, it’s not going to be there.”

“On fight night, we will go in there with bad intentions. He is going in there to take my title and I got to do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn’t.”

“Looking to showcasing my skill, my youth. Using any advantage that I have to make sure my hand is raised at the end of the night.”

Pacquiao, who hasn’t fought in almost four years, is the clear underdog but a live one at that given his vast experience and glowing track record.