Quick notes on Usyk vs Dubois and Pacquiao vs Barrios

Usyk vs Dubois 

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You've got the seasoned veteran Usyk at 38, and the young bull Dubois at 27.

This 11-year age gap, let’s be real, is not 32 vs 21, where the wheels are still greased. After the mid-thirties, Father Time doesn’t just tap on the shoulder, he starts throwing hooks.

Physically? They stack up pretty evenly, but let’s not forget, Usyk started at Cruiserweight, and while he’s performed magnificently in the heavyweight division, he's still giving up some natural bulk. Dubois, since his loss to Usyk, has looked sharper and hungrier, almost like a man who’s been through the fire and come out forged.

I think we see a very different Dubois this time around.

Yet something tells me Usyk is a special fighter who's got one last masterpiece left in him. One final symphony of footwork, feints, and angles. It may not be dominant, but it may be enough to squeak by.

If he pulls it off, he should ride off into the sunset taking his rightful place among the all-time greats.

Pacquiao vs Barrios

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Manny Pacquiao is 46 years old and Mario Barrios is a spry 30.

Now remember, George Foreman pulled off a miracle at 45 when he flattened Michael Moorer, but let’s not kid ourselves, there are a couple of major differences here.

First off, Big George was just that, big. He was a walking refrigerator with fists. Moorer, on the other hand, started at light heavyweight.

Pacquiao, physically, isn't anywhere close to Barrios.

Second, as renowned boxing analyst Larry Merchant once said, ‘There’s boxing, and then there’s heavyweight boxing.’ That Foreman punch? Call it divine timing, call it fate, call it a Hail Mary from the boxing gods. But heavyweights can erase everything with one shot. In the lower weights it takes more work.

Now I’ll admit it. Pacquiao has surprised me a few times. I bet against him when he steamrolled Ledwaba, shocked Barrera, outclassed Margarito, and we all know how the De La Hoya fight unfolded. The man is a legend and one of the best, if not the best, that I’ve seen in my lifetime.

But I don't see this going the way of Foreman-Moorer.

I see this one looking more like Paul vs Tyson, where the older man couldn’t pull the trigger, and when he did, he was swinging at air.

You can be old, you can be small, but you can't be old and small.