Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao is just one day away from making his sensational return to boxing.
The legendary Filipino is set to challenge reigning WBC Welterweight World Champion Mario Barrios tomorrow night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao had announced his retirement from the sport back in 2021, just a short while after he suffered the eighth defeat of his career to former WBA champ Yordenis Ugas.
As he prepares to lace up the gloves for what could – and should in the eyes of many – be the final time, retired four-weight world champion Roy Jones Jr has shared his final thoughts on the Filipino icon’s return to the ring.
Speaking on Ring Champs with Ak & Barak, Jones said that he believes Pacquiao will be victorious against Barrios, perhaps due to the sport’s politics, as long as he can go the entire 12 round contest unscathed and not be hurt by the younger champion.
“Honestly speaking, nowadays with how things go and with Manny being who Manny is, if Manny can get to 12 rounds, Manny’s gonna win the fight.
“If Barrios can hurt Manny early in the fight and not let him go 12 rounds, he might have a chance, but Manny has one of the bigger outputs for any fighter of any era. He’s a guy that don’t mind throwing three and four and five punches at a time, he not one of those guys that won’t throw four or five punches if he see it.
“So that being said, the only concern I have is how will his legs hold up, because if his legs hold up, he’s gonna beat Barrios.”
Victory for 46-year-old Pacquiao would see him become the oldest world welterweight champion ever, breaking the record that he set with a victory against Keith Thurman back in 2019.