Manny Pacquiao’s Return to the Ring
This Saturday marks a monumental return for fighting icon Manny Pacquiao, as he steps back into the boxing ring after nearly four years. The event will be held at the prestigious MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Pacquiao, now at the age of 46, will face Mario Barrios in pursuit of the WBC welterweight title. If victorious, Pacquiao would secure his place in history as the second-oldest major world champion in boxing, and notably, the oldest champion in a division lighter than light heavyweight.
Pacquiao’s Legacy
Pacquiao (62-8-2, with 39 knockouts) last fought in August 2021, when he lost a decision to Yordenis Ugas, leading to his retirement from professional boxing. Since then, he has participated in two exhibition matches, including showdowns against South Korean influencer DK Yoo and former kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo. His legacy is cemented as a boxing legend; he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2023 and remains the only fighter to have won world championships across eight weight classes, spanning four decades from the 1990s through the 2020s.
Mario Barrios: The Challenger
In contrast, 30-year-old Mario Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) is the defending WBC interim champion, a title he earned after defeating Ugas in 2023. Barrios defended this title successfully against Fabian Maidana and fought to a split draw with Abel Ramos in November 2024, further solidifying his standing in the division. As Barrios prepares to face the legendary Pacquiao, he expressed both respect for his opponent’s legacy and confidence in his own abilities.
“Manny has been doing this his whole life and understands what it takes to go in there. He’s trying to achieve greatness by fighting for a title at his age, which deserves respect,” Barrios noted. He admitted that should the situation arise where Pacquiao appears vulnerable, he would seize the moment without hesitation.
Fight Details and Betting Odds
The highly anticipated fight will be available via pay-per-view, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday on Prime Video PPV, with the main event ring walks expected to take place around 11 p.m. ET. In terms of betting odds, Pacquiao is seen as a considerable underdog, sitting at +270 against Barrios, who is favored at -380.
Full Fight Card
The full card for the Pacquiao vs. Barrios event includes several exciting matchups:
- WBC welterweight championship: Mario Barrios (c) vs. Manny Pacquiao
- WBC super welterweight championship: Sebastian Fundora (c) vs. Tim Tszyu
- Super lightweight: Isaac Cruz vs. Angel Fierro
- Featherweight: Brandon Figueroa vs. Joet Gonzalez
- Lightweight: Gary Russell Jr. vs. Hugo Castaneda
- Super bantamweight: Alan Romero vs. Kyonosuke Kameda
- Super featherweight: Mark Magsayo vs. Jorge Mata Cuellar
- Welterweight: Abel Ramos vs. Jose Luis Sanchez
- Super lightweight: Omar Salcido Gamez vs. Brian Gallegos
- Middleweight: Eumir Felix Marcial vs. Bernard Joseph
- Super lightweight: Jursly Vargas vs. Sergio Aldana
- Super welterweight: Joseph Brown vs. Aaron Watson
As fans await this clash, the excitement builds for Pacquiao’s return and the potential for a historic night in boxing.
