Manny Pacquiao will step back into the ring after a four-year break to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight world championship. The Filipino boxing legend, now 46, will face an opponent 16 years his junior.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao's longtime promoter and friend, expressed his concerns about the matchup. The Top Rank boss told reporters:
"He's an incredible person, Manny Pacquiao, and if anyone can do it, it's him. But I'm really worried, given his age and inactivity."
Arum, who has seen countless fighters come and go, went on to call Pacquiao "the best fighter I've ever seen." Still, the age gap and time away from the sport loom large over this bout.
The fight draws comparisons to the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson event, but with a key difference - Barrios is an active, professional boxer.
Pacquiao's team has taken steps to address potential challenges. Justin Fortune, his strength and conditioning coach, and Buboy Fernandez, his manager, have shifted their training strategy. They've moved from what they call a "400-meter race" approach to preparing for a "real marathon."
An assistant trainer on Pacquiao's team predicted the fight will go the full 12 rounds. This suggests they don't expect "PacMan" to score an early knockout, raising questions about his stamina over a long fight.
The key question now is whether the Filipino icon will have enough gas in the tank to compete with a younger, fresher opponent. Pacquiao's legendary status and fighting spirit will be put to the test against Father Time and a hungry challenger in Barrios.
