Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring against a fighter born months after his pro career started.
Manny Pacquiao hopes to defy the odds and Father Time as he gears up to battle for his 13th world title against Mario Barrios.
Pacquiao has had one fight in the last four years, and one win in the last six.
He will be facing 29-2-1 Barrios, who has lost only to Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman, who Pacquiao named his dog after.
Barrios spoke ahead of the fight on one fight he had that truly put him to the test.
Mario Barrios was urinating blood and had a panic attack after Botirzhon Akhmedov
In 2019, 24-0 Barrios was matched up with 7-0 Botirzhon Akhmedov for the WBA Regular super-lightweight title.
Barrios said of the fight, “We gave each other a beating. Afterwards, I was at the ER, I was p—— blood. That was the first time I had a panic attack. I won the fight, but physically it didn’t feel like I won.”
Barrios and Akhmedov went the distance in their slugfest, with Akhmedov being dropped twice in the fight, and Barrios suffering a cut over his left eye.
Akhmedov is now 10-4, having lost to Oscar Duarte, Alberto Puello, and Kenneth Sims Jr.
Barrios revealed that he took a lot from that fight, and it will all amount to good experience as he comes up against a legend.
Manny Pacquiao won his first world title when Barrios was three years old
Pacquiao turned pro months before Barrios was born, meaning he has years of experience on his future opponent, but much more mileage on the clock.
Barrios was just three when Pacquiao won his first world title, and before he turned 13, Pacquiao had already won titles in three different weight divisions.
Though many are ruling Pacquiao out, especially after witnessing Pacquiao’s training footage, it remains a must-watch fight on a stacked night of boxing.