Manny Pacquiao will reportedly be coming out of mothballs to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19th in Las Vegas. The 46-year-old former eight-division world champion Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) will be fighting for the first time in four years since 2021, seeking his first victory in six years since 2019. Although Pacquiao isn’t ranked in the top 15, the WBC’s rules allow former champions to challenge for their world titles out of retirement.

Meritocracy Debate

Boxing fans on social media are split on their thoughts on Pacquiao’s being given a title shot without earning it. People who are fans of Pacquiao love the idea and can’t see him back, fighting the weakest link among the belt holders at 147. On the flipside, critics feel that this is a bad move for the sport’s meritocracy. Fighters are supposed to earn title shots, not be given them based on what they did a decade ago.

“Breaking: Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao will end his nearly four-year retirement to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship on July 19 in Las Vegas, sources confirmed to Andreas Hale on Thursday,” reports ESPN Ringside on X.

There’s no guarantee that Pacquiao will succeed against the 29-year-old Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs). While Manny is definitely picking the weakest of the champions at 147, he’s not young and active enough to have a good shot at winning. Pacquiao looked badly washed in his last fight in 2021, losing to Yordenis Ugas by a 12-round decision.

He blamed his defense on cramps in his calves from doing too much running in training camp. He just looked too old and ring-rusty from two years out of the ring. Ugas dominated Pacquiao in that fight.

There’s the potential of Pacquiao getting hurt by Barrios. Hopefully, the referee steps in quickly if it looks like Manny is taking a pounding. Leaving the 46-year-old out there to soak up punishment wouldn’t be a good idea.

The Motive

It’s unclear what the purpose is for Pacquiao coming back. Some fans on social media believe Pacquiao has spent the fortune that he got from the Mayweather fight on his political career, and is now forced to return to the ring.

If Pacquiao has blown all his money on his becoming a senator, it’s disappointing. He made a fortune from his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015. The fight was not entertaining at all, with both fighters looking badly over the hill, and Mayweather doing the bare minimum to win.