Pacman driven by history

MANNY PACQUIAO didn’t have to look very far to find the inspiration for his ring return.

The legendary former eight-division boxing champion has literally led a Hall of Fame career, as he is set for enshrinement this upcoming weekend.

There was no reason for him to come back, at the age of 46 and nearly four years after his last fight.

However, the thrill of meeting with the media ahead of his training camp to break his own record as the oldest welterweight titlist ever — that’s what gets him out of bed and into the gym.

“I returned because I miss boxing,” Pacquiao told PBC host Ray Flores during a Los Angeles press conference to formally announce his challenge to WBC welterweight titlist Mario Barrios. “Especially this situation, being interviewed, press conferences, the training camp, everything like that. I miss that.

“I rested my body for four years. I’ve been in boxing for 30 years, so it was good to rest my body. Now I’m back, I’m excited to give the fans a good fight.”

Barrios-Pacquiao will headline a July 19 PBC on Prime Pay-Per-View event from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fittingly, the event comes six years – almost to the day — and the same venue from where Pacquiao registered his last win and added to an already historic career.

A July 2019 split decision win over then-unbeaten Keith Thurman at MGM Grand saw a then 40-year-old Pacquiao claim the WBA welterweight title. The odds aren’t quite in favor of the now 46-year-old version of Pacquiao, 62-8-2 (39 KOs). San Antonio’s Barrios, 29-2-1 (18 KOs), is a -333 favourite to beat the Filipino southpaw, according to bet365 sportsbook.

A win would not only see Pacquiao become by far the oldest welterweight to win a title but the only elected Hall of Famer to do so. No fighter who was either already in the Hall (see Alexis Arguello) or elected and awaiting enshrinement (Sugar Ray Leonard) enjoyed anything close to a successful comeback.

“I know that Mario Barrios trains hard, he has to defend this belt and I am his challenger,” said Pacquiao. — boxingscene.com