Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring this weekend to face Mario Barrios. Two-weight world champion Teofimo Lopez sees a clear winner.
The Filipino fighting legend set the record as boxing’s oldest welterweight champion when he beat Keith Thurman back in 2019 at the age of 40. He now challenges Barrios, 30, for the WBC belt in an attempt to break his own record.
Pacquiao’s training sessions, under the guidance of longtime trainer Freddy Roach, have been well document and accessible to fans as he attempts to convince naysayers he can turn back the clock for a victory.
One man who stopped by was current super-lightweight king Lopez. Speaking to Fight Hype after their training session together, Teo was full of praise for Pacquiao and said in no uncertain terms that he would have his hand raised come fight night.
“What Manny Pacquiao is doing at this age, that’s different. High spirits, energised, motivated determined, and I look forward to seeing him, raise his hands again, become World champion once again.”
Though many in the sport feel too much respect to outright say that they are backing against Pacquiao, big names like Bob Arum believe the comeback is unwise.
There is also controversy surrounding the matchmaking, with the WBC coming under fire for granting a shot to the eight-division world champion based on his past achievements. The president of the sanctioning body, Mauricio Sulaiman, has defended the decision, saying that it is part of their rules that a returning ‘legend’ will be given special treatment.
The title fight takes place at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas this weekend.
