One of the greatest boxers of all time, Manny Pacquiao, is making his return to the ring after a four-year hiatus against Mario Barrios for the WBC Welterweight Championship.
Check out my best bets for Saturday’s Pacquiao vs. Barrios boxing card.
Mario Barrios by KO/TKO/DQ (+135)
Although he is facing one of the greatest fighters of all time in Pacquiao, it isn’t the same Pacquiao who was an eight-division champion. This is Pacquiao’s first fight in four years, and he hasn’t won a bout in six years. Additionally, in his last few years of competing, Pacquiao went 3-2 in his previous five fights and began to show signs of regression.
Barrios enters this bout hungry after his first WBC Welterweight title fight didn’t go his way in November 2024. His title fight against Abel Ramos ended via a split decision draw. But Ramos has won eight of his last 11 fights by KO/TKO/DQ.
With a four-and-a-half-inch height advantage and a four-inch larger standing reach, it favors Barrios. Since he is smaller, Pacquiao will likely struggle to mount a ton of offense in this contest. Barrios is a -275 favorite with the former champion being a +210 underdog on DraftKings Sportsbook. However, with his power, it is wise to bet on Barrios to win this bout by knockout at +130.
Sebastion Fundora Moneyline (+125)
Sebastion Fundora defeated Tim Tszyu by split decision in March 2024 and will face off in a rematch tonight. Since then, Fundora picked up a knockout victory against Chordale Booker in March. Tszyu has gone 1-1 since their previous bout.
Tszyu is a talented fighter with supreme knockout power, but Fundora is the overall more advanced boxer. Fundora is eight inches taller (6’5.5″ vs. 5’8.5″) with a nine-and-a-half-inch reach advantage (80″ vs. 70.5″). I believe Fundora’s physical advantages will be too much for Tszyu to overcome in this second matchup. Getting the defending champion at +130 is an excellent play since he has had success against Tszyu in the past.
