Manny Pacquiao is on the verge of making a sensational return to boxing.
The 46-year-old Filipino legend is set to face reigning WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday July 19 at an unconfirmed location in the United States, although the bout is set to take place in Las Vegas.
‘Pac-Man’ drew the curtain on his professional career just a short while after he was defeated by former WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas in 2021, although he has faced Rukiya Anpo and DK Yoo in respective exhibition bouts since then.
One man who has weighed in on Pacquiao’s shock return to the sport is former opponent Tim Bradley, who locked horns with ‘Pac-Man’ on three occasions during his tenure – winning the first and losing the subsequent two fights.
Speaking to Chris Mannix, Bradley gave an honest assessment of his former rival’s comeback, as he admits he feels that Barrios can get the job done and send the 46-year-old into retirement once and for all.
“Barrios is no slouch, Barrios is a young fighter, a bigger fighter, knows how to control the distance very well, can punch a little bit like he’s no easy task for anybody in the welterweight division.
For Manny to come back after this long and to face a young guy like that is dangerous and sometimes these old legends gotta get beat up several times before they call it quits, that Ugas fight I don’t know if it was enough for Pacquiao, that’s why he’s coming back but Barrios he can finish Pacquiao, there’s a possibility that he can finish Pacquiao and cause him to go back into retirement.”
Barrios has made a single defence of his WBC crown, fighting to a split decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. The 29-year-old from San Antonio, Texas made the move up to 147lbs after he was dethroned of his WBA super-lightweight title by Gervonta Davis four years ago.
