Manny Pacquiao’s place in world rankings under threat as WBC admit mistake ...Middle East

Manny Pacquiao is likely to be removed from the WBC welterweight rankings ahead of his upcoming world title fight.

The 46-year-old Filipino superstar is set to square off against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas as he bids to become the second-oldest boxing world title holder of all time.

Shortly after the WBC gave the green light for the fight to take place, Pacquiao was re-entered into their 147lbs ratings at No.5 despite a four-year hiatus.

The decision was met with significant backlash, although WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman now admits it was a mistake.

The mishap won’t, however, affect Pacquiao’s claim to a world title shot, as Sulaiman explained in an interview with Fight Hub TV.

“The World Boxing Council regulations allow legendary boxers who receive a license from a boxing commission and who pass all their exams to compete for the title,” he said.

“We made a mistake in ranking him number five, and that caused confusion among the media and fans, obviously saying, ‘Why is he ranked if he hasn’t fought?’

“What happened is that permission was granted, the fight was authorised, and we’ll talk again on July 20 to see how it went.

“I think we’re going to remove him from the rankings with the clarification that he will fight based on the regulations.”

Whether Pacquiao is ranked by the WBC or not, the fight remains incredibly controversial.

Barrios is 16 years Pacquiao’s junior and has competed five times since ‘Pacman’s’ last professional outing.

That night, in August 2021, Pacquiao was convincingly beaten on points by Yordenis Ugas.

Two years later, Barrios would outclass Ugas for the WBC interim belt, which was eventually upgraded to a full world title in 2024 when Terence Crawford vacated the green and gold strap to move up to super welterweight.

While styles make fights and boxing math doesn’t always add up, Father Time is undoubtedly undefeated.

Most feel Pacquiao should be nowhere near a boxing ring after he was battered from pillar to post in an exhibition bout with Ruikya Anpo last July.

Yet 12 months later, he has been rewarded with a world title shot, much to the dismay of talkSPORT Boxing pundit Spencer Oliver.

“Pacquiao looked a shell of his former self in his last fight against Ugas,” he said.

“He has had a long career and turned pro in 1995; he’s great, but he’s coming back now.

“But the biggest disgrace of this is that the WBC are sanctioning the fight for a world title, which is just wrong.

“I think it’s a young man’s sport, the inactivity and way he performed in his last fight. I don’t like it.

“Let’s just leave it there. But the governing bodies should only sanction fights if they are in the top fifteen.

“He’s been retired for four years, so how does that warrant him jumping the queue and fighting Barrios?

“It’s wrong in so many ways. The system is broken with the WBC allowing that to happen.”

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