Like many fans, the promoter Eddie Hearn is given by Manny Pacquiao’s decision to come from a four-year retirement, by the sanction body the green light to challenge Mario Barrios on July 19 for his WBC Welterweight title.
(Credit: Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom)
Hearn is not happy about it because 46-year-old Pacquiao blocks his plans to set up a unification fight between IBF and WBA champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Barrios. He points out that Pacquiao is “Everywhere near the world level” After being inactive since 2021. This is just an example of the direction the sport is taking.
Boxing is WWE?
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou should not be allowed to fight Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in his first and second fighting of his pro career. It is still allowed to happen. Terence Crawford should not be allowed to jump up two weight classes to skip to the front of the line to challenge Canelo Alvarez for his undisputed Super Middleweight Championship. You hate to say that, but boxing is changing WWE, where everything goes.
‘All the champions are on Boots’ radar. I still think it’s bizarre. I still think it’s bizarre that Manny Pacquiao is fighting for a world title. Five years outside the ring, and no longer near the world level. But it’s boxing, and it’s the business, and we understand it, ‘Eddie Hearn tells Fighting typeRespond to Manny Pacquiao coming out of the pension to challenge the WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios on July 19.
Barrios is vulnerable enough to lose for Pacquiao. If the Filipine star is everywhere near the level he was in 2019 when he defeated Keith Thurman, he would be too much for Barrios. The 29-year-old man was elevated to the full WBC title of 147 pounds outside the ring.
Barrios did not win his belt in the traditional way. Initially, he won the WBC-TUs-Title with a 12-round decision on Yordenis Ugas, which came from a long dismissal, eye injury and a loss of Errol Spence.
Last updated on 05/21/2025
