It’s the news that has boxing fans buzzing with excitement – Manny Pacquiao’s potential return to the ring against Mario Barrios for the WBC belt. The prospect of seeing the legendary Pacman back in action has fans on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting confirmation of the fight.
For many fans, the idea of Pacquiao stepping back into the ring is a dream come true. The Filipino boxer has long been a fan favorite, known for his speed, power, and lightning-fast footwork. His fights have always been must-watch events, and the chance to see him compete for another title is something that fans are eagerly anticipating.
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But it’s not just the prospect of seeing Pacquiao in action that has fans excited – it’s also the potential financial windfall that comes with it. The opportunity to see the boxing legend compete for a title against a talented opponent like Barrios is sure to draw a huge audience, which means big paydays for everyone involved.
The sanctioning body voted to elevate former welterweight interim titleholder Barrios to full championship status on June 18. When this happened, word got through to Team Barrios that Pacquiao wanted to fight, and positive talks escalated between the camps.
The sanctioning body voted to elevate former welterweight interim titleholder Barrios to full championship status on June 18. When this happened, word got through to Team Barrios that Pacquiao wanted to fight, and positive talks escalated between the camps.
“Once Mario was getting elevated, Pacquiao wanted to make history, and Barrios is the guy that he wants to fight for the WBC title,” Santos told World Boxing News.
“We’re all moving forward, no doubt about it,” the 2022 Trainer of the Year said. “It’s just a matter of putting together where the fight is gonna be and all the little details here and there. But Manny wants the fight, and Mario wants the fight.”
Barrios was one of the brightest prospects at Premier Boxing Champions before he ran into Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis in 2021, as he built a 26-0 record with 17 by way of knockout. But back-to-back defeats to Tank by 11th-round knockout and then Keith Thurman by decision needed a career revamp, which he accomplished with three wins in a row over Jovanie Santiago, Yordenis Ugas, and, last month, Fabian Maidana.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, built one of the most legendary careers of the modern era as he swashbuckled his way through eight weight classes, taking on a who’s who of world champions and Hall of Famers in front of sold-out arenas and hundreds of thousands if not millions, on pay-per-view.
Though Pacquiao hasn’t fought since a 2021 loss to Ugas, he has been relatively busy on the exhibition circuit, taking on South Korean martial artist DK Yoo in 2022 ahead of another unofficial match on July 28 involving Japanese kickboxer Chihiro Suzuki.
“I know Pacquiao’s got an exhibition, but he’s already started training for Mario,” Santos told us.
Santos said more broadly about the possible event: “It’s a tremendous fight from the standpoint that Pacquiao’s a legend, and Mario’s the champion.
“And then obviously, it’s great because you have Manny with all his following, you know that, with all the Filipinos who support him like none other, and then boxing fans in general who think, ‘We want to see him maybe on his last go around.’ If he wins, obviously, he’ll move forward. If he loses, then maybe he will call it a day. Then you’ve got Mario with all the Mexican fan base. Two great ethnicities in boxing. And so we think it’s going to be one hell of an event.”
The rough agreement for the two to fight, Santos said, “is there now.” However, he added: “It’s just a matter of what the exact number is going to be, who’s going to agree to what, and where the fight will be. It will [likely be] in the fall … October, November.”
For Santos, every great fighter has one last great fight in them. This is something, he said, we’ve seen throughout boxing history, whether it’s Roberto Duran rolling back the years when he beat Ivan Barkley or James Toney defying critics at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
“Manny has shown he’s still got the zip on his punches because I’ve been watching him train,” said Santos. “I’ve seen some of the videos. He’s got fast hands, and one of the last things to go on a fighter is usually the punch. So he’s still got fast hands.
“Manny can do this. It’s been done in history. So don’t underestimate legends or count them out.”
The potential fight between Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios for the WBC belt is a dream come true for boxing fans. The chance to see a legend like Pacquiao compete for another title, and the potential financial rewards that come with it, have fans eagerly awaiting confirmation of the fight. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the sport or just someone looking for some excitement, this fight is sure to deliver in spades.
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