July 19 will be the day of the great return of Manny Pacquiao to a boxing ring. In Las Vegas, the Filipino will challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. At 46 years of age, Pacquiao will seek to silence those who question him because of his age and physical condition, as the boxer has not fought since 2021 and this will be his great opportunity to return and prove that he is still in force.
While the criticism of Pacquiao was directed at his age and physical condition, it was also questioned the fact that some time ago he had been placed in the fifth place in the ranking of the division, above for example, Yordenis Ugas, who was the boxer who beat the Filipino and sent him into retirement from the activity for several years.
After criticism for a ranking that he clearly did not deserve, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman explained that it was a mistake and that they should update Manny Pacquiao’s ranking. Recently, the WBC rankings were made official and Pacquiao was left out of the top 40 in the division, a blow ahead of his eagerly awaited return.
The benefits of being a legend
Pacquiao’s current ranking should not allow him to compete for this fight and challenge a champion, however, in the WBC regulations it is specified that boxers considered as legends can opt for certain benefits and one of them is to be able to have this type of fights.
“The World Boxing Council regulations allow legendary boxers who receive a license from a boxing commission and pass all their tests to compete for the title,” explained the president
Manny Pacquiao goes for the record
Winning this fight would mean a lot of things for Manny Pacquiao. At 46 years old, it would be epic to beat the current champion, especially coming back after five years out of the sport. In addition, considering his new ranking, a hypothetical victory would be historic.
Manny Pacquiao could also become the oldest champion in the 147-pound division if he defeats Barrios. So if the Filipino needed anything else to be more than a legend, these facts could leave him even higher.
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