There is still a month to go before the fight, but Manny Pacquiao seems to be more than ready for the fight, as Mauricio Sulaiman has shown in advance the results of the Filipino boxer’s anti-doping test.
The revelation of the results is unusual given that, although boxers enrolled in the WBC Clean Boxing Program are subject to random testing at various stages of their training, the results are not always published before the fight.
Normally, VADA shares the final results after the fight is over, usually through social media. However, Sulaiman decided to offer an early update on Pacquiao’s status on his Instagram account.
“Just got notification from @vada_testing with negative result for @mannypacquiao,” he wrote, accompanied by a photo of the 46-year-old legendary boxer.
Manny Pacquiao ready for his fight against Mario Barrios
The WBC president also stressed: “The #cleanboxingprogram has been very busy lately with a lot of testing around the world.” This program, which is run jointly by the WBC and VADA, includes random year-round testing, intensified testing 6-12 weeks before the fight, and additional testing within 30 days of the fight, even on the day of the event.
So far, no test results have been released for Mario Barrios. It is worth noting that since Pacquiao was retired, he was not subject to the random year-round testing conducted by the program.
When is the Pacquiao vs. Barrios fight?
The only eight-division world champion in boxing history, Manny Pacquiao, is preparing for his long-awaited return to the ring in a showdown against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. The fight will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 19.
This fight is of great relevance because if Pacquiao wins, he will become the oldest welterweight champion in history, surpassing his own record set at the age of 40. However, it will not be an easy fight as Barrios‘ youth could be a major challenge for the 46-year-old Filipino, who has been inactive for almost four years.
With this unexpected message from Sulaiman, it seems that the WBC intends to dispel any doubts about Manny Pacquiao, especially given his age and the media focus that accompanies this unexpected return.
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