The undercard for Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight is shaping up nicely.
Pacquiao is set to come out of retirement to square off against Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on July 19 in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao will fight for a world title at 46 in JulySean Michael Ham/TGBThe first ballot Hall of Famer is an eight weight world champion from flyweight to super welterweight and has achieved everything there is in boxing.
However, at 46 years old, he is gearing up for a return to the paid ranks after a lengthy hiatus.
The last time Pacquiao boxed professionally, he had his WBA welterweight title snatched from him by Yordenis Ugas via unanimous decision in August 2021.
Since then, he has looked like a shadow of his former self in the exhibition boxing sphere.
His most recent outing against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo last July raised alarm bells that Pacquiao shouldn’t be anywhere near a ring.
As both boxers went the three-round distance, the fight was declared an automatic draw, but had the contest been scored, ‘PacMan’ would have lost it convincingly.
Despite showing serious signs of physical decline, the WBC have sanctioned Pacquiao to face a man 17 years his junior for their version of the 147lbs world title.
Barrios picked up the interim green and gold strap when he defeated Ugas in September 2023 and was subsequently elevated to full world champion last June when Terence Crawford relinquished the belt to move up to super welterweight.
The Mexican-American then retained his title after being held to a split draw by Abel Ramos on the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson undercard last November.
While Pacquiao vs Barrios hasn’t gone down well with hardcore boxing fans, the undercard certainly will.
Barrios will defend his WBC welterweight title against PacquaioGETTY Tszyu and Fundora’s rematch will take place on the undercardEsther Lin/PBCAccording to Ring Magazine, organisers are planning to stage the long-awaited rematch between Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu on the bill.
Fundora upset Tszyu in March 2024 in a bloody war that left both men covered in claret after the Aussie suffered one of the worst cuts in recent memory.
In beating Tszyu, Fundora was crowned WBO and WBC super welterweight champion.
However, he was recently forced to relinquish the WBO belt after pulling out of the scheduled purse bid for a mandatory defence against Xander Zayas.
Ring Magazine is also reporting that Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz is set to return on the same card, with a rematch against Angel Fierro being a possible option.
Cruz fought Fierro in February in his first fight back after losing his WBA super lightweight title against Jose Valenzuela.
It ended up being a thrilling Fight of the Year contender, with both men combining to throw 1410 total punches between them.
Cruz will also feature on the billEsther Lin/PBCCruz is rarely in a dull fight and has earned massive plaudits for his all-action style from Mike Tyson, who insists the Mexican reminds him most of himself.
“If I had to say someone is closest to me, I would say Isaac Cruz,” Tyson told Ring Magazine.
“He’s short and stubby for his weight class, like I was, and he comes at you.
“People might think I would say Gervonta Davis, but Tank reminds me a whole lot of Aaron Pryor. I mean that as a big compliment.
“You would think Tank is a brawler, but he really is a boxer-puncher.
“He moves well. He moves his head well. He can beat you all kinds of ways.
“He can knock you out. Or he can box you.
“Cruz reminds me the most of who I was. He comes at you with bad intentions.”
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