Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, hasn't fought since 2021 when he lost to Yordenis Ugas. Now, he's coming out of retirement to take on the 29-year-old Barrios. The odds are against Pacquiao, with bookmakers listing him at +210 compared to Barrios at -275.
Despite the long break, Pacquiao's fire still burns bright. He told reporters:
"Even with my layoff, my passion is still there. I want to give the fans what they want. I'm always bringing surprises. I'm OK being the underdog. I've been the underdog many times. We're going to show the world that boxing is still alive. Manny Pacquiao is still here."
Barrios won't make it easy for the Filipino icon. He became the full WBC champion after Terence Crawford vacated the title and has since beaten Ugas and fought to a draw in his first title defense. Barrios respects Pacquiao but feels confident:
"Hats off to Pacquiao for daring to be great. But it's my time now. I'm not looking for the knockout, but I'm coming in with bad intentions."
Experts point to Pacquiao's age and long layoff as potential issues. Barrios also has a 4-inch reach advantage and stands 6 inches taller. The consensus prediction leans towards Barrios winning by TKO in the eighth round, expecting him to deal enough damage to force a stoppage.
The undercard features some exciting matchups. Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu will have a rematch for the WBC and WBO junior middleweight titles. Their first fight was a brutal, blood-soaked affair that Fundora won by split decision.
Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz beat Omar Salcido in a ten-round bout, showing off his relentless pressure and devastating power. Brandon Figueroa claimed victory over Joet González in a tough and electrifying fight. Gary Russell Jr. also won his match against Hugo Castañeda, knocking him down multiple times.
As the main event approaches, both fighters have arrived at the arena. Pacquiao looks ready to prove he's still got it, while Barrios seems focused on the task at hand. The crowd's excitement is building, and we're set for what could be a memorable night of boxing.