BOXING fans are fearing for Manny Pacquiao’s safety after his first face-off with Mario Barrios.
The pair will battle for the WBC welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on July 19.
X @FightHubTVManny Pacquiao (left) will face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title next month[/caption]
GettyPacquiao is one of boxing’s greatest ever fighters but has not won since 2019[/caption]
Pacquiao, 46, is fighting for the first time as a pro since a loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The Filipino legend is aiming to become the oldest welterweight world champion in history.
PacMan remains one of the world’s greatest boxers and is the sport’s only ever eight-division champion.
But his square-off with Barrios highlighted the noticeable physical differences between the two fighters.
Pacquiao, standing 5ft5, could only gaze up at the 6ft tall Barrios, who held on tight to his WBC belt.
Both fighters smiled during the good-natured meeting – but fans are fearing for the 46-year-old legend.
One responded to face-off: “Mannys gonna get hurt.”
Another declared: “Lightweight vs welterweight,”
While a third said: “The height difference isn’t what’s bothering me, it’s the reach. How tf is Manny [going to] punch up there?”
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Pacquiao’s decision to come out of retirement was first announced last month.
It caused incredulity among much of his fanbase, with some insisting he has “nothing left to prove”.
Pacquiao‘s last win came in 2019, beating Keith Thurman.
He later stepped away from the ring for a spell in politics, running for president of the Philippines.
PacMan stepped back into the squared circle against Korean YouTuber DK Yoo in a 2022 exhibition.
He returned last July for another exhibition against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in Tokyo.
Should Pacquiao get the best of his 30-year-old opponent, he wouldn’t be the oldest world champ of all time.
That accolade goes to Bernard Hopkins, who won a world title aged 49 in 2014.
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