LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao, 46, says his speed will ultimately be the deciding factor in beating Mario Barrios when they square off Saturday at MGM Grand to headline a PBC on Prime Video PPV.

Barrios, who enters as WBC welterweight champion, disagrees with the Hall of Fame legend who’s 16 years his senior.

“Timing always beats speed, and I have great timing,” Barrios told The Ring. “I have fast hands and fast feet, too. I just choose not to use it all the time. I have faith in everything I am preparing.

“The main thing is not to show him too much respect. I don't want to let him get into his rhythm. I'm not trying to take rounds off. I'm going to work on our game plan from the opening round.”

Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) said he plans on doing to Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) what Yordenis Ugas did to the Filipino in 2021 during a clear-cut unanimous decision win.

“Ugas gave a pretty nice blueprint on how to make it a very difficult fight for Manny,” said Barrios. “My fight with Ugas went in a similar manner as when he beat Manny. I just have to take what I can from those fights, listen to my corner and I know I will walk out of the ring with my title.”

Barrios fought Ugas in September 2023 and dropped the Cuban twice en route to a unanimous decision win. But that was after Ugas was blitzed by Errol Spence Jr. in April '22, a 10th-round stoppage loss because of a broken orbital bone.

Barrios and Pacquiao also share a common opponent in Keith Thurman. Pacquiao knocked him down and scored a split-decision win during a turn-back-the-clock-like performance in July 2019. Barrios lost a unanimous decision in his welterweight debut against Thurman in February '22.

Barrios’ other loss came via knockout against Gervonta Davis in June 2021, another diminutive southpaw with fleet feet and hand speed like Pacquiao.

“Manny’s movement and hand speed are looking on point right now,” said Barrios. “That’s what has always made him a great fighter. He doesn’t have an easy style to replicate, and that can make sparring tricky. That’s one of the reasons he’s been so successful and why he’s in the position that he is.”