Reactions against the return of Manny Pacquiao continue, because the legendary Filipino boxer is 46 years old and has been retired for four years, and will return to challenge Mario Barrios for the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight championship on July 19 in Las Vegas.
The main controversy, beyond age, is the WBC rule that allows former champions to return with a ranking if they decide to come out of retirement to claim a title fight.
The most recent opponent is Jeff Mayweather, uncle of Floyd Mayweather, who when questioned during an appearance on The Mayweather Channel on YouTube, explained that the boxing landscape has changed in recent years with boxers coming out of retirement, but criticized Pacquiao’s merits for being in a title fight: “The thing is, he hasn’t done anything to fight for a world title.”
Juan Manuel Marquez criticizes Pacquiao’s return
Juan Manuel Marquez said he respects Pacquiao’s career, but criticized the WBC for giving him all the facilities to obtain a title, without really knowing what his current conditions are.
In an interview with Probox TV, Marquez said he wants to know in what condition one of his greatest rivals returns.
“After four years of inactivity, we’ll see how he comes back. After that knockout in 2012, he kept fighting and did quite well, beating great fighters. It’s not an easy fight for Mario Barrios. On the Filipino’s side is power and speed,” said Dinamita Marquez and added: “The one to blame is the organization, why does it put Pacquiao to fight for the world title after four years inactive? Where are the ranked fighters from 1 to 10, from 1 to 5? The organization is making a mistake, but letting a historic fighter fight is not an issue. If he feels good, if he has no pain from an injury, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt as to how he would come back.”
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