LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao tries to add a whole new chapter to an illustrious career, as he vies for the World Boxing Council welterweight title against reigning champion Mario Barrios in a 12-round fight featuring one of boxing’s most highly-anticipated comebacks.
Pacquiao, 46, returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) after coming out of retirement, determined to prove age is just a number and show he’s still one of the world’s elite fighters despite a four-year layoff in the ring.
But it’s Barrios, standing all of 6-foot flat, who gets in the way of the legendary Filipino’s bid for added greatnes, as the San Antonio native is out to conquer his biggest challenge yet as champion and bolster his claim that he belongs.
“Manny has accomplished so much, but it’s my time now,” said the 30-year-old Barrios (29-2-1 18 KOs) while clutching his title belt during the official weigh-in on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“This is huge for me and my career,” added the champion, who came in at 146.2lbs.
In as much as Barrios is looking to make a statement in his second title defense, there’s no doubt that the star of the show is Pacquiao, the only eighth-time world division champion and Hall of Famer, who’s aiming to become the second oldest fighter to win a crown after former undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins at age 49.
“I’m back,” said the Filipino boxing icon, sounding like Michael Jordan when he came out of retirement.
“Boxing is my passion and I missed boxing,” added Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) who came in dressed in a white Team Pacquiao jacket and black track pants.
He tipped the scale at 146.8lbs.
Pacquiao rested and recharged
The last time the ‘Pacman’ stepped into the ring, he was on the losing end of a unanimous decision against Cuban Yordenis Ugas in a failed bid to wrest the 147-pound version of the World Boxing Association belt.
Shortly after, Pacquiao, who won his very first world title in 1998 with a fourth round knockout of Chatchai Sasakul for the WBC flyweight crown, announced his retirement.
The years away from boxing – spent in two unsuccessful bids running for the Philippine presidency and the Senate – somehow gave him time to rest and recharge his body from the hustle and bustle of prizefighting where he’s been involved at the early age of 12.
“It’s good for my body to rest for four years,” he said amidst an electric atmosphere inside the Grand Garden Arena where around 6,000 fight fans were present.
Now, he’s driven and determined to get back on top and stay true to his billing as boxing’s 'Living Legend.'
Magsayo, Marcial join Pacquiao in fight card
Two Filipinos in former world champion Mark Magsayo and Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial will also see action in the Pacquiao-Barrios undercard.
Magsayo (27-2, 18 KOs) the one-time WBC featherweight title holder, will be up against Jorge Mata Cuellar(21-2-2, 13 KOs) of Mexico. Both fighters weighed in at 129lbs.
READ: Magsayo not looking past Mexican foe in bid for world title
Marcial (5-0, 3KOs) who bagged the bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Games, takes on Bernard Joseph (11-2-1, 5 KOs) in an eight-round bout at middleweight. The 29-year-old Marcial will be fighting back as a pro since March of 2024 when he stopped Thoedsak Sinam of Thailand in the fourth round at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
READ: Eumir Marcial left in awe by 46-year old boss' training regimen
Thomas Taylor will be the third man on the ring in the Pacquiao-Barrios welterweight title fight, while the three judges scoring the bout are Tim Cheatham, Max DeLuca, and Steve Weisfeld.
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