Manny Pacquiao Targeting Historic Return To Face WBC Champion Mario Barrios
Manny Pacquiao is targeting a return to the ring to face newly appointed WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios, the Filipino legend’s adviser Sean Gibbons has revealed.
Pacquiao (62-8-2 39 KO) is one of the greatest and most successful fighters in history, but he has not fought since a demoralizing points defeat to Yordenis Ugas in September 2021 that saw him lose his WBA (Super) welterweight world title.
That loss in Las Vegas was widely expected to be Pac Man’s final professional fight, but almost four years later, the 45-year-old is back in training and aiming to create history by winning a welterweight world title for a record sixth time.
Pacquiao’s most viable route to achieve that record looks to be against Barrios, who was recently elevated from interim to full champion status by the WBC.
The American was elevated after Terence Crawford opted not to defend the title in favor of a move up to super-welterweight where he will aim to become a four-weight world champion against WBA title holder Israil Madrimov on August 3.
October/November Targeted For Return
“That’s why [Pacquiao] is boxing’s only eight-time champion,” Gibbons told BoxingScene. “Manny loves the competition. He loves doing things people don’t believe he can do.”
Gibbons revealed that negotiations have begun over a potential fight between Pacquiao and Barrios. The fight, he said, would likely take place in October or November, with Las Vegas the probable location – unless Saudi Arabia swoops in with a crazy offer.
The big thing to resolve, he admitted, was money. But with the return of a superstar as globally popular as Pacquiao, then it shouldn’t be too much of a sticking point.
Pacquiao won his first world title – the WBC flyweight belt – 26 years ago, when Barrios was only three years old.
“Can you imagine him winning another one all these years later?” Gibbons said. “It’s so crazy how life goes full circle.
“Look, the fans want to see Manny Pacquiao one more time. What happened last time [the defeat to Ugas] left so many people leaving that arena depressed. Manny should have won.
Pacquiao Determined To Make More History
“He wants to win again. I’ve been with him in training. He’s fast, he’s quick, he’s the Manny of five to 10 years ago. Let’s be honest, 80 percent of Manny Pacquiao beats most of the guys out there today.”
Pacquiao is already regarded as one of the greatest fighters in history. The only boxer to win world titles in eight weight divisions and the first to win world titles in four of the eight glamor divisions (flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight), the accomplishments are already historic.
Since fighting Ugas, Pac Man has been keeping somewhat active by taking part in several lucrative exhibition bouts. His next exhibition is against Japanese kickboxer Chihiro Suzuki on July 28.
Still, Gibbons said the Filipino remains motivated to create more history and prove that he is the best welterweight fighter of all time.
“Nine guys in the Hall of Fame right now are on Manny’s record,” Gibbons said. “Terence Crawford has none. And this is why Manny Pacquiao’s career will always be better than Floyd Mayweather’s, as he’s looking to go punch up on a mobster’s son [John Gatti III] in Mexico City.
“Unlike Floyd, Manny didn’t cherry pick his opponents. He fought [Juan Manuel] Marquez, [Erik] Morales and [Marco Antonio] Barrera all at their best weights. He took some losses, yes, but that’s why his record as a welterweight is better than Floyd, than Oscar [De La Hoya], and it will be shown when we make the Barrios fight.”
