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Return of Pacquiao: Legacy Risk for boxing legend, WBC Sanction is questioned

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1 year ago

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Image: Manny Pacquiao's Comeback: 46-Year-Old Legend to Challenge Mario Barrios for WBC Welterweight Title, Igniting Meritocracy Debate

The news spread that Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KO) will fight Mario Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KO) at the Barrios welterweight belt. Many commentators are nervous, because in addition to his current age, Pacquiao is approaching four years of idleness, since losing to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. One of the overarching narratives was that Pacquiao jumps in a queue, apart from younger, more dynamic warriors who fought for a shot in the title.

Although a bit true, it is challenging to argue that manny, thanks to his achievements, did not deserve the right to challenge the title at his own request. In the first years he served sport honorably, providing thrilling, full of fighting and bringing fans from around the world to boxing. Pacquiao was a walking roller in front of Saudi money, dazem or fixation on undefeated records. It has been proven that he was able to postpone time for his father time and always fought the best as he could in every fight, sometimes thrown in pursuit of the opponent.

Risk Return Pacquiao

The second, more vital argument is that Pacquiao risks its health by fighting at an advanced age of 46. In his youth, Pacquiao had enough strength to avoid caught pure blows in a full fight for the championship. Using a mixture of leg work to rush and leave and a solid guard, he pulled a shock from many shots. He would also return the fire in the middle of a combination of opponents. In his recent fights with Thurman and Ugas, Pacquiao’s head was repeatedly withdrawn because of his inability to predict shots, tiring his legs and the lack of distance between themselves and the opponent. As a cultural phenomenon, it would be a shame to see how Pacquiao maintains constant damage when his career finally ends, if he did not yet. As a legend of boxing, it would be another example of what happens when the warrior exaggerates with greeting. Time will tell what impact his many wars had on his brain, but it seems that in his best interest it would be to suspend gloves and enjoy the fruits of his delivery.

It is intriguing that WBC sanction this fight and defends his decision. Over the years, Mauricio Sulaiman has opposed women fighting with three rounds and twelve rounds of struggle for the championship because they can risk constant brain injury, which is a risk that every boxer takes when they enter the ring. A fight in which one warrior is approaching 50, while the other is still at their best level, seems to be a more dramatic risk of security than two women with similar competing skills. Prohibiting women taking the most basic risk in boxing (knocking), while enabling freakshow sanctions in such a way that your organization sends a clear message. Sulaiman stands on the road the size of women.

Barrios: Weaker master?

It is true that Barrios is the least hazardous champion at 147 pounds, but Pacquiao still takes a great risk, depending on his worn battle, a 46-year-old body to lead him to victory. While Pacquiao will still have strangely bulky hands, the decisive factor will be the strength of the section. Barrios is not power, but if he manages to survive the early stages of the fight, he may be able to win a victory over the aging legend.

The purpose of this fight is to handle the Pacquiao heritage. He is addressed to the perceived weakest master in his weight class and hopes that he will make history, taking his record of being the oldest welterweight champion. But at the age of 46, how much does he still offer?

We will undoubtedly see the flashes of Pac-Man when the night-kill of strokes with awkward angles comes. The show of his will, which was broken only once, made him unconscious. It will be kind in victory or failure. But when the events of the evening are prescribed in countless articles on the internet, they will be far from the stories told during his years of killing monsters and giants, casting impossible combinations and confirming that the heroes are not promotion products, but are created by the circumstances they endure, and the stories we talk about them.

Last updated 21.05.2025

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Boxing

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

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8 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

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Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

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9 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

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Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

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9 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.

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