Pacquiao confirmed the matchup in late May, setting the boxing world on fire. Fans and experts couldn't stop talking about it, sharing their thoughts and predictions left and right.
The odds favor the younger Barrios at 1-3 (-300), while Pacquiao comes in as the underdog at 12-5 (+240). But not everyone's buying into those numbers.
Roy Jones Jr., who just got inducted into the Hall of Fame, thinks Pacquiao's got what it takes to win. Jones shared his thoughts during his induction in early June.
"I gotta go with Pacquiao."
Jones didn't stop there. On July 4, he doubled down on his prediction.
"Manny is different from a lot of guys. He's special."
Jones believes Pacquiao's experience and grit matter more than what the odds say. He even laid out a game plan for the Filipino fighter.
"If you stay away from Barrios for the first six rounds and fight smart, he'll beat Barrios. But if he goes in there trying to trade, Barrios will catch him."
Some folks worry about Pacquiao's age, but Jones brushes that off. He fought until he was 54 himself.
"How can a man who fought at 54 have any concerns about anybody under that age?"
Jones trusts Pacquiao knows what he's doing.
"Manny's a consummate professional. He knows how to handle himself. He knows what he's up against, what he's challenging, what Barrios is - he knows everything."
But Jones isn't taking Barrios lightly. He warns that underestimating the American champ could lead to trouble for Pacquiao.
Pacquiao's comeback reminds many of Mike Tyson's return last year. Both comebacks have fans excited but also worried about the fighters' well-being.