Why Manny Pacquiao is boxing again for world title against Mario Barrios

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Four years aft his past combat ended successful a disappointing loss, the legendary Manny Pacquiao is backmost successful the ringing and challenging for different satellite title.

The 46-year-old volition look WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios connected Saturday – but questions stay arsenic to whether Pacquiao, wide regarded arsenic 1 of the champion boxers successful history, tin equine a superior situation astatine specified an precocious age.

Here’s what you request to cognize astir the surviving legend’s boxing comeback against Barrios:

Why is Pacquiao making a comeback?

Pacquiao, a Hall of Famer boxer, shrugged disconnected concerns astir his comeback and says helium understands the risks of reentering the ringing against a rival similar Barrios: A antheral 16 years his junior, 16cm (6.3in) taller, and the two-time reigning WBC welterweight rubric holder astatine the highest of his powers.

“I’m coming backmost due to the fact that boxing is my passion,” Pacquiao said successful an interrogation with ESPN. “It’s each I deliberation about, and I truly similar to marque history.”

The Filipino icon says this is not a one-off combat but alternatively a archetypal measurement successful an extended instrumentality to boxing. Pacquiao claims his information to combat again is chiefly astir preserving his competitory bequest alternatively than money.

“I’m disquieted for my reputation,” Pacquiao said successful an interrogation with the BBC. “But I’m making definite that I’m not a benignant of combatant similar different fighters that travel backmost but they are not showing what they did before.”

What’s astatine involvement for Pacquiao

A nonaccomplishment for Pacquiao against Barrios would apt beryllium the last nail successful the coffin of a superlative boxing career.

A triumph would beryllium a 13th satellite title for the charismatic combatant and adhd to his already stellar boxing resume.

Broader aesculapian concerns implicit middle-aged boxers reentering the ring, particularly aft a agelong lay-off, person been raised, though aesculapian checks were made connected the fighters successful the lead-up to the bout.

What is the day and commencement clip for Pacquiao vs Barrios?

The combat is scheduled for Saturday, July 19.

Pacquiao and Barrios are expected to undertake their ringing walks astatine 8pm (03:00 GMT connected Sunday). The combat volition statesman soon thereafter.

The main undercard begins astatine 5pm (00:00 GMT connected Sunday).

Where is the combat being held?

Pacquiao vs Barrios volition instrumentality spot astatine MGM Grand Garden Arena successful Las Vegas.

The venue tin big much than 16,000 spectators, making it 1 of the largest boxing venues successful the United States.

Who is the favourite?

The American is the wide bookmakers’ favourite to clasp his satellite title title.

“In truthful galore of my fights I was the underdog, and I amazed them… Manny ever brings surprises,” Pacquiao said.

Career record: Pacquiao

The Filipino surviving fable has won 12 large satellite championships.

He is the lone rival to triumph satellite titles successful 8 antithetic value divisions, much than immoderate different boxer successful history.

His longevity successful the athletics is arsenic legendary arsenic the lone combatant to seizure oregon clasp satellite titles crossed 4 antithetic decades: The 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

In June, Pacquiao was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, becoming the 3rd Filipino boxer to person the honour.

What is Pacquiao’s combat record?

Pacquiao’s past nonrecreational combat was a determination nonaccomplishment against Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas successful 2021 for the WBA satellite welterweight championship.

His past nonrecreational triumph was six years agone against Keith Thurman, erstwhile helium became the oldest welterweight champion successful history.

Fights: 72
Wins: 62
Wins by KO: 39
Losses: 8
Draws: 2

What is Barrios’ combat record?

The 30-year-old American volition beryllium defending the WBC rubric for the 2nd time.

His past combat was a divided gully determination against Abel Ramos connected November 15.

Fights: 32
Wins: 29
Wins by KO: 18
Losses: 2
Draws: 1

Mario Barrios, right, and Abel Ramos successful action.

What has Pacquiao said astir the fight?

Pacquiao, who turns 47 successful December, feels rejuvenated aft 4 years distant from the ringing and said helium was returning for different accidental to marque history.

“I’m enjoying grooming campy arsenic overmuch arsenic I did erstwhile I was 26 oregon 29 years old. The information to bid hard and the subject are the same,” Pacquiao said astatine Wednesday’s quality conference.

“I mean, it’s due to the fact that I’ve been distant from boxing wherefore I’m inactive funny and passionate astir fighting.

“I cannot ideate that I americium inactive warring present successful the Grand Arena aft 24 years. It’s a blessing, a favour from God, and I’m truthful thankful to beryllium here, inactive warring and putting connected a bully amusement for the fans,” helium said.

What has Barrios said astir the fight?

“Manny has been doing this his full beingness and understands what it takes to spell successful there,” Barrios said. “And he’s trying to beryllium great. He’s trying to bash something, warring for a rubric astatine his property – and arsenic a fighter, I person thing but respect for that.

“You know, Manny is simply a precise likeable person. I can’t deliberation of thing atrocious to accidental astir him different than, you know, he’s facing maine for my title.

“At the extremity of the day, he’s conscionable different antheral successful there. He’s different hostile trying to instrumentality my title, careless of everything he’s accomplished and fixed to the sport,” Barrios added connected Wednesday.

What is the combat prize money?

The prize wealth has not been disclosed.

It has been reported that Pacquiao volition marque up to $5m for this bout – successful enactment with akin payments successful his past 2 fights – with Barrios earning up to $1m.