Juan Manuel Marquez has spoken out ahead of Manny Pacquiao’s sensational return to the ring.
Pacquiao is set to challenge reigning WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios this Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 46-year-old Filipino great has not fought as a professional since the summer of 2021 when he was outpointed by former WBA world welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas.
At the height of his glittering career, Pacquiao was one of the very best fighters to walk the planet, sharing the ring with a number of generational greats including Marquez, who locked horns with ‘PacMan’ on four occasions throughout his career, with Marquez winning one, losing two and one bout being a draw.
In an interview with ESNEWS, Marquez shared his thoughts on his former rival’s upcoming return, admitting that whilst he believes it is a ‘dangerous’ fight for the 46-year-old, he believes the eight division world champion will prevail against Barrios.
“Good luck for both fighters, I don’t know, this fight is dangerous for Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao is 46-years-old but he’s professional, he’s training hard every day. Let me tell you something, I think Manny Pacquiao is the new world champion, I think so … The most important thing is experience, experience is everything, his power, his speed and everything, I think Manny Pacquiao is the new world champion.”
Should ‘PacMan’ be victorious against Barrios on Saturday night, he will become the oldest world welterweight champion in the history of boxing, breaking the record that he actually set himself 6-years-ago when he dethroned fomer WBA champion Keith Thurman.
