Manny Pacquiao’s impending return to world championship boxing at age 46 is the talk of the sport, the reason he shot to No. 5 in the WBC welterweight rankings and cause for concern.
“He didn’t look great in his last [professional] fight [in 2021 against champion Yordenis Ugas], but he’s not just a celebrity – he’s legendary,” former 140lbs titleholder and 2014 Pacquiao opponent Chris Algieri said on Tuesday’s episode of ProBox TV’s “Boxing Scene Today.” “I don;t love the fact that he skipped to the front of the line, but he brings in so many eyes, so many dollars, so much attention. That’s why he’s been pushed in here.”
Pacquiao, 62-8-2 (39 KOs), will enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame next month in New York.
His election loss in the Philippines senate race Monday will allow for his full attention on his July 19 shot at WBC welterweight belt holder Mario Barrios Jnr, 29-2-1 (18 KOs), with a news conference scheduled in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Said former welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi: “The silver lining is the eyes that will come back to the welterweight division” with Barrios, WBO titlist Brian Norman Jnr and unified champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis currently reigning while never having headlined their own pay-per-view bout.
“I’ve been saying Mario Barrios sucks [as a champion], and now we’re seeing Manny Pacquiao thinks Mario Barrios sucks. Team Pacquiao sees this as a moment they can make a move in. And if Manny Pacquiao wins a world championship, it’s more money [for future contenders] and it brings some life back to the division.”
Pacquiao is attempting to best George Foreman (45) as an older world titleholder. Only Bernard Hopkins, who did it at 49, has done it at an older age.
Yet, the fact that Pacquiao struggled in a boxing exhibition against a kickboxer last year sounds alarms for trainer Robert Garcia, who previously sent Brandon Rios and Antonio Margarito into the ring against Pacquiao.
“We’ll be worried about what happens in the fight,” Garcia said. “Barrios may be the easiest of the champions, but Manny didn’t look too good last time out. I hope he gets in great shape.”
Algieri added, “Aging brains don’t take punches well, but he’s done well against taller opponents who are heavy on the front foot and don’t jab well – I just named Mario Barrios. I don’t know what’s left of Manny, but this is his best chance.”
Garcia said the key is for trainer Freddie Roach to ensure Pacquiao gets in quality running and sparring sessions, and that he’s ready to call off the fight if Pacquiao shows signs of age with slow footwork and decreased ability to pull the trigger.
“I see an embarrassment. Barrios can hurt Manny,” Garcia said. “This could hurt boxing. It’s just too late, and you have a young, talented fighter in front of you.”
But Malignaggi was reminded of Barrios’ flat showing in November when he and Abel Ramos fought to a draw.
Malignaggi responded, “I keep coming back to Mario Barrios sucks, that even a shot Manny can pull this off. It creates a conversation point, a curiosity that we may see something special.”
Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.