Manny Pacquiao will have to contend with the effects time has had on his body as he prepares to return to the ring on July 19.
The eight-weight champion will make his comeback at the age of 46 when he takes on WBC Welterweight champion Mario Barrios in a huge title fight.
This will be Manny Pacquiao’s first fight in four years, where his last outing saw him unanimously defeated by Yordenis Ugas in a disappointing performance for the Filipino boxing legend.
While many people have memories of Pacquiao’s incredible knockout wins over Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya, he is a much different fighter than from his prime in the ring.
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Fight stats show that Manny Pacquiao is not as fast and clinical as he was in his prime
Pacquiao is aiming to become a 13-time world champion when he takes on Barrios, although he does not have a great chance of winning if we look at his recent fight stats.
As reported by ESPN, Pacquiao is a very different fighter in the last six fights than he was in his prime (which covers Pacquiao’s win over De La Hoya in 2008 to his trilogy fight with Timothy Bradley in 2016).
The figures show that Pacquiao has gone from being well above the average for a Welterweight fighter to well below, becoming slower and less accurate with his punches over the years.
His famous body shots, which helped him win numerous titles, have also dropped in number, down from 20.3 per round to just 12.9, below the average of 16.2.
| Category | Pacquiao (last 6 fights) | Pacquiao in his prime | Welterweight division average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total avg. thrown per round | 50.7 | 60.8 | 55.4 |
| Total avg. landed per round/Body | 12.9 | 20.3 | 16.2 |
| Percentage | 25.4% | 33.4% | 29.2% |
| Body landed ratio | 23.4% | 20.2% | N/A |
| Jabs avg. thrown per round | 26 | 24.8 | 23.2 |
| Jabs avg. landed per round | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.4 |
| Percentage | 15.8% | 15.3% | 19% |
| Power avg. thrown per round | 24.6 | 35.9 | 32.1 |
| Power avg. landed per round | 8.7 | 16.5 | 11.8 |
| Percentage | 35.4% | 46% | 36.8% |
In his prime, Pacquiao was well above average in nearly all the stats. He threw more punches, was more accurate with his punches, and landed 50% more power punches than the average Welterweight during his peak years.
That has dropped in the years since. His power punches per round have nearly halved, while he throws far fewer punches than the average, with poorer accuracy. The only thing that has improved is his jab, although that still remains below the rest of the division.
The loss of his power punching and relentless flurry of punches explains why he has struggled to finish opponents in the past six fights compared to before.
Mario Barrios can take advantage of Manny Pacquiao’s slower pace in their title fight
The change in Pacquiao over the years is not surprising, as fighters generally get worse as they get older. However, these stats were from half a decade ago, and “Pac-Man” is now 46 years old.
It is likely that he won’t have improved – many don’t at that age – which could be a boon for Barrios as he prepares to defend his title against Pacquiao.
The WBC Welterweight champion is 30 years old and in his prime in the ring. With zero defeats in his last four fights, including a win over Ugas, who beat Pacquiao four years ago, shows that he is at his best and should be a problem for Pacquiao on July 19.
However, the 12-time world champion doesn’t look any slower in training. Fans were wowed by Pacquiao in training, as his incredible speed looked as good as he was in his prime.
However, nobody can hold back the hands of time forever, something Barrios will be well aware of as he prepares to face the 46-year-old.