Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao is set to make history in his fight against Mario Barrios on Saturday night.
Manny Pacquiao knows exactly what he wants when he steps into the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. “I don’t need money, I want to make history,” the Filipino boxing star announced in “The Ring” magazine ahead of his highly anticipated comeback. Almost four years after his last fight, the 46-year-old is returning to the ring to fight American Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on Sunday morning at around 5 a.m. German time.
Pacquiao officially announced his comeback in May, and a victory could now see him achieve something truly historic – he would be the first active boxer to win a major world title after being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. And even though his opponent Barrios is considered the favorite, Pacquiao is not lacking in self-confidence: “I have no problem being the underdog,” Pacquiao said this week in Las Vegas, adding: “I’m always good for surprises.” According to reports, he is set to receive between five and ten million US dollars for the fight.
With world titles in eight different weight classes, Pacquiao is considered one of the best boxers of his time, but in September 2021, he announced the end of his career after a points defeat to Cuban Yordenis Ugas. In his professional boxing career to date, Pacquiao has won 62 of his fights, including 39 knockouts, and lost eight times. He is also politically active in his home country, where he unsuccessfully ran for president of the Philippines.
