Manny Pacquiao poses on the scale during a ceremonial weigh in Friday, July 18, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
LAS VEGAS—Manny Pacquiao had won three professional bouts and was two weeks away from his first knockout victory by the time Mario Barrios was born.
So there was little surprise that familiar chants of “Manny! Manny!” broke out when the Filipino ring icon was introduced before a good-sized crowd at Friday’s weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
LIVE: Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios – WBC welterweight title fight
It’s been four years since Pacquiao retired, six since he last won a boxing match that mattered, and it’s like he never stopped fighting at all. The pride of Saranggani province—and of the Philippines—is remains a captivating draw in this neon-lit gambling haven in the middle of the Nevada desert.
The 46-year-old Pacquiao was in his typical mood: beaming, waving to the crowd and basking in the adoration before and after he hit the scales at officially 146.8 pounds.
“Those four years that I retired from boxing, it was good for my body because I’ve been in boxing for how many decades and I have been fighting since I was 12 years old,” said Pacquiao, who turned professional in 1995 and won his first world title in 1998 as a flyweight via an eighth-round knockout of Chatchai Sasakul in front of his opponent’s home crowd in Thailand—Barrios was 3 at that time.
“But now I’m back and I’m excited to fight and really hungry to fight.”
Pacquiao is expected to have his work cut out for him against his much-younger foe, the WBC welterweight champion who is in his peak physical form.
The 30-year-old Barrios, who is of Mexican American descent and hails from San Antonio, Texas, is making his second title defense since being elevated to full-fledged WBC champion in May 2024.
He made his first defense last November against an unheralded Abel Ramos and barely hung on to his belt, settling for a split draw.
His lackluster performance left him seeking validation, something a victory over Pacquiao—a legend and Hall of Famer—will provide many times over.
Pacquiao will also be disadvantaged height-wise, but even during the weigh-in, it was clear who had the bigger stature: Barrios, the champion, was introduced first.
But Barrios, a two-division champion, couldn’t care less about being relegated to a side attraction. He believes he will earn his star power after the bout.
“I’m approaching this the same way I have all my other fights, as just another title defense,” said the 30-year-old Barrios, the taller fighter, who was a tad lighter than Pacquiao at 146.2 pounds.
”Manny has accomplished so much. But it’s my time now.”
The sports books certainly think so. Barrios is listed as a -300 favorite against Pacquiao, who’s a +225 underdog. But Barrios has an impassive take on the betting odds.
“I wasn’t aware. I don’t really pay attention to the odds. I just put in the work and show up. Regardless of favorite or not, I’m just going to show why I’m the current WBC champion,” he said.
It’s been a while since Pacquiao came into a fight as an underdog. But he’s been counted out before and has silenced his doubters time and again.
“That’s fine. There were so many fights where I was an underdog and I brought some surprises for them. Manny Pacquiao always brings surprises,” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao will be appearing in his 16th fight at MGM Grand Arena, the most by a fighter in one of boxing’s hallowed venues here.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Pacquiao shared the record with rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. when he lost to Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas in August 2021. He announced his retirement after that fight.
In commemoration of Pacquiao setting the arena record, a banner was unveiled at the building’s rafters as the Filipino ring icon watched. INQ
