Manny Pacquiao Ready To Challenge Mario Barrios For WBC Title In July

Former and only eight-weight boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao is set to put on his gloves and get back into the ring after a four-year absence to challenge Mario Barrios in July.

The 46-year-old former world champion was last in the ring in Las Vegas in August 2021, where he faced Yordenis Ugas and lost the match via unanimous decision. He will be hoping to change the results this time around as he faces Barrios in the same city.

Being a former champion, Pacquiao has re-entered the WBC world rankings and has been reinstated at No. 5 in the WBC welterweight rankings. Pacquiao is considered one of boxing’s all-time greats as he holds a of being the oldest welterweight champion in history after he gained victory over Keith Thurman back in 2019.

Manny Pacquiao has also been involved in politics back in his home country. The former world champion managed to hold the office of senator from 2016 to 2022, which motivated him to aim even higher for the top job (presidency), but his bid in 2022 was unsuccessful.

With the WBC rules in his favor, Pacquiao will get a chance to become champion once again as he will get the opportunity to face Mario Barrios, who is currently the WBC welterweight champion in July in Las Vegas.

The WBC rules state that all title holders must defend their belts against a qualified challenger, and the category of ‘qualified challengers’ includes any former WBC champion, a status that Pacquiao currently fulfils.

Manny Pacquiao’s first championship status came in WBC and at the flyweight level, now at 46 years, the former champion wants to try his luck and retire as WBC champion at welterweight.

Mario Barrios, being much younger than Pacquiao (29 years old), and actively involved in the sport in recent years when Pacquiao was away, will not be an easy opponent for the former champion and he will have to dig deep if he wants to get the victory over the current champion.