Manny Pacquiao is less than two months away from making a sensational return to the sport.
After months of speculation, it has been confirmed that the 46-year-old from the Philippines will challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC world welterweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday July 19.
‘Pac-Man’ announced his retirement from professional boxing shortly after he was defeated by former WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas back in the summer of 2021.
The Filipino icon has had a couple of exhibition contests since then however, facing DK Yoo and Rukiya Yoo in unscored bouts in 2022 and 2024 respectively.
In an interview with Sporting News Australia, Crawford was asked if he believes Pacquiao can defy the odds and become a world champion once again, initially needing just two words to sum it up: 50/50.
“Mario Barrios is a great match-up for Manny Pacquiao, and I think at this age it’s a 50-50 fight for Manny Pacquiao.”
Victory over Barrios will see ‘Pac-Man’ become the oldest world welterweight champion of all time, breaking the current record which he holds himself when he defeated Keith Thurman back in 2019 to capture the WBA welterweight crown at 40-years-old.
It has also been confirmed that Pacquiao has linked up with legendary trainer Freddie Roach, who worked with the Filipino great for 34 of his fights over 16 years before their relationship broke down back in 2018.
As for ‘Bud’ Crawford, the 37-year-old from Omaha is now preparing for the toughest test of his glittering career which comes against Canelo Alvarez in September, as he bids to become the first fighter in male boxing history to win the undisputed world championship in three weight classes.