Manny Pacquiao made his return from retirement official at the age of 46. This will happen to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship. “I’m back,” Pacquiao posted on social media, instead of sending the announcement by fax like Michael Jordan did 30 years ago.
Pacquiao won that title in 2019 by defeating Keith Thurman by split decision. His last no-decision victory was a seventh-round TKO over Lucas Matthysse in 2018. Pacquiao was the only boxer to win 12 world titles in eight different weight classes, including flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.
Mario Barrios, the man Manny Pacquiao will fight, has 18 wins by knockout
His last fight was on November 15, 2024, against Abel Ramos on the undercard of Jake Paul’s fight against Mike Tyson. He won the WBC interim welterweight title by defeating Ugás in September 2023 and became the full champion in June 2024. Barrios has a career record of 29-3, with 18 wins by knockout.
The WBC recently ranked Pacquiao No. 5 in its welterweight rankings, although the boxer has been out for four years. However, a former champion can request a title fight after returning from retirement. According to the information released, the Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios fight has been confirmed for July 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, USA.
Eddie Hearn issues a resounding verdict on the Manny Pacquiao vs. Barrios fight
The boxing world is always rife with speculation and divided opinions, and Eddie Hearn’s recent statement is no exception. The influential promoter has sparked debate by stating that the legendary Manny Pacquiao “won’t have a chance” against current WBC interim welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
“The fight shouldn’t be for the world championship, in my opinion. Barrios isn’t the best world champion, but I think he’s better than what we saw last time, when he boxed on Mike Tyson’s undercard, and I think he’ll beat Manny Pacquiao fairly easily.“
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