Santos: We are ready to rumble

LAS VEGAS — From the looks of it, the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title fight Saturday starring Manny Pacquiao and defending champion Mario Barrios is going to be a fistic treat.

This was the observation of Barrios’ trainer Bob Santos, who wasn’t surprised at all that Pacquiao appeared in terrific shape a day before the Filipino icon tries to knock the WBC 147-pound crown off Barrios’ head at the MGM Grand.

“Manny looks in great shape, Mario looks in great shape. If there’s any indication, they both look in great shape. It will now transition to what they’re going to do in the fight,” Santos said following the official weigh-in Friday.

Barrios, 30, making the second defense of the title, came in at 146.2 pounds.

Pacquiao, 46, attempting a comeback at age 46, stepped in at 146.8 pounds.

Santos swears it wasn’t surprising that Pacquiao, the clear underdog in the scheduled 12-rounder, even weighed heavier than his fighter.

“I was (not really surprised). The weighin is the weighin. Floyd Mayweather sometimes weighs in at 146 and at fight night comes in at 144. Some guys weigh in at 145 and come in at 165.”

It is the recovery from weighin until the opening bell that’s going to be crucial, Santos pointed out.

“The rehydration is the tell not so much on what the weighed. Yeah, he will rehydrate pretty solid because he is a big guy so he will pack in a few pounds for sure.”

Having fought only thrice in Sin City, Barrios is expected to enter the ring locked and loaded.

“He is with his family, eating, taking it easy and decompressing from a long and hard camp and getting his mind right and things of that nature.”

Santos can’t wait to call the shots in Barrios’ corner.

“The work is done now and we’ll see what happens tomorrow night.”