Pacquiao hasn't fought professionally in four years. His last bout ended in a decision loss to Yordenis Ugas, the former WBA world welterweight champion. Since then, he's kept busy with exhibition matches against mixed martial artists DK Yoo in 2022 and Rukiya Anpo in 2024.
The upcoming fight against Barrios marks Pacquiao's return to high-stakes boxing. He's aiming for the WBC world welterweight championship, a title that could add to his already impressive legacy.
Pacquiao seems confident about his comeback. He recently said:
"I can fight anybody, even like Gervonta Davis … I'm not scared of anybody."
His promoter, Sean Gibbons, backs up this bold claim:
"When he beats Mario Barrios, line them up. His dream fight is Gervonta Davis. He loves that fight. He tried to get that fight for a couple of years. Gervonta kept talking about how he didn't want to fight him at 145. Then he goes and gets smoked by Lamont Roach. So Manny Pacquiao can get this belt, and it's going to be a wonderful ride out."
Gervonta Davis, the current WBA lightweight champion, seems to be on Pacquiao's radar. In the past, Davis turned down the chance to fight Pacquiao at 145 pounds. But things might change if Pacquiao succeeds against Barrios.
If Pacquiao wins this fight, he'll break his own record. He's already the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history, a title he earned in 2019 by defeating Keith Thurman for the WBA championship.
The boxing world will be watching closely as Pacquiao attempts to prove that age is just a number in this high-stakes comeback fight.