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Manny Pacquiao: ‘My Goal Is To Leave A Legacy To The Boxing Fans’

Originally posted on Fights Around The World
By Abraham Gonzalez | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 8:51 PM ET

It was a gloomy Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles, CA, as Premier Boxing Champions hosted a press conference for their July 19 PPV fight card headlined by Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) vs. WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios (29-2-1,18 KOs) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

Although the 46-year-old Pacquiao has already been dismissed as a potential winner in this fight, he has not allowed that chatter to ruin his mood as the former eight-division champion was all smiles as he entered the Novo in LA on Tuesday.

Pacquiao Has Begun Rocking Barrios To Sleep

You don’t get to become an eight-division champion without having some Jedi mind tricks up your sleeve. Pacquiao is a master at giving you the smiles and laughs that force his opponents to let their guard down, but when that bell rings, it’s a whole other story.

On Tuesday afternoon, Pacquiao did just that. He was all smiles and joked with Barrios during the face-off to lighten the mood, and it felt like he had begun rocking Barrios to sleep. Thurman spoke of this after losing to Pacquiao in their July 2019 fight in Las Vegas. Thurman said that Pacquiao gives you the good guy vibes until it’s time to fight, and then you see a whole different persona. That’s what this afternoon felt like, and outside looking in, it appeared Barrios was beginning to fall for it.

Barrios said all the right things and predicted a victory on July 19, but if there was such a thing as a convincing meter from 1-10, with 10 being fully convinced, it felt like he was at only at a 5. Pacquiao, on the other hand, gave the impression that this is just another day in the park. To further that point, Pacquiao was asked if this fight was a one-off, to which he replied, “I’m back.”

Pacquiao is a legend and a Hall of Famer inside the ring, but he is also an inspiration to people worldwide. This is why, when he ended his comments, he did it in a way that only Pacquiao knows how: by inspiring others.

“My goal is to leave a legacy to the boxing fans,” said Pacquiao. “A legacy that can inspire the young generation who are dreaming of becoming a champion not only in the boxing industry but also to the boxing fans worldwide.”

Let’s see if, on July 19, the Hall of Famer puts in one last great performance or if we see yet another aged fighter who returns one too many times and is badly beaten.

The Rematches That Will Give The Fans Their Pound of Flesh

When it comes to the two rematches on the card, Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora 2 and Isaac Cruz vs. Angel Fierro 2, those are the fights that will likely have the fans on their feet.

When it comes to Fundora-Tszyu, there is a weird dynamic with them both as they are men of few words but with an all-action style, choosing to express themselves in the ring more than anywhere else. Both fighters already looked in shape, and although they were full of confidence, it was Tszyu who appeared more bloodthirsty heading into this fight than Fundora did on that stage today. One thing they did agree on, though, was that they would deliver an entertaining fight, so let’s hope that ends up being the case, as their first fight was an all-out war.

While Cruz-Fierro 2 is over a month away, Fierro had a mini dad bod going as he walked on stage in LA. There is plenty of time to work that off, but it didn’t appear he has begun any type of physical fitness. This may not be a factor in the fight, but it is something to keep in mind as we get closer to fight week if he is going to struggle at the scales. Cruz was beaming with confidence as usual but appeared more ready to continue his camp than Fierro.

The Opener & Final Notes

Brandon Figueroa vs. Joet Gonzalez will open up the PPV, and both fighters looked ready to get it on. FightsATW was able to chat with Figueroa, which will be on a feature that is forthcoming.

Overall, the press conference was a success as media members from around the world attended. Although fans on social media have had their reservations about this fight card, this will end up being the one that everyone tunes into come fight night.

This article first appeared on Fights Around The World and was syndicated with permission.

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