The last opponent of Manny Pacquiao has had his say on the Filipino’s power ahead of his shock return to boxing.
The 46-year-old eight-division world champion will face reigning WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday July 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
‘PacMan’ has not fought as a professional in four years, but has faced both Rukiya Anpo and DK Yoo in exhibition contests which took place in 2022 and 2024 respectively.
The man to send Pacquiao into a four year retirement was Yordenis Ugas, who successfully defended his WBA welterweight title against the Filipino icon in June 2021, defeating him via unanimous decision in what was a career best victory for the Cuban.
Speaking in the post-fight press conference, Ugas called Pacquiao a ‘great puncher’ and praised the power of the all time great.
“Of course Manny Pacquiao punches hard, he’s a great puncher. he got rattled in the tenth and hit in the eleventh but he’s a great warrior, he’d been hit hard before this guy’s fought one of the great amateurs, fought everybody in the pro’s so he knows what he’s gotta do when he gets tagged.”
Pacquiao has teamed up with legendary coach Freddie Roach ahead of his return to the ring, reigniting their partnership which originally spanned for 16-years and 34 fights. The 46-year-old re-entered the WBC’s rankings at the beginning of the month, as he bids to make even more history for himself and become the oldest world welterweight champion ever, a record that he currently holds himself after he defeated Keith Thurman back in 2019 when he was 40-years-old.
