On Saturday night, one of the greatest fighters in history will return to the ring in search of his 13th world title. The 46-year-old will clash with reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in the main event of a stacked Prime Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view card.
Here’s how you can watch the card:
Date: Saturday, July 19
Time: 8 PM ET
Location: MGM Grand in Las Vegas
Pacquiao vs. Barrios main event ringwalks (approximately): 11 PM ET
Watch: Prime PPV and PPV.com
Here’s a look at the Pacquiao-Barrios undercard, which is a really solid lineup of fights:
- Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios; for Barrios’ WBC welterweight title
- Sebastian Fundora vs. Tim Tszyu; for Fundora’s WBC super welterweight title
- Isaac Cruz vs. Angel Fierro; super lightweight
- Brandon Figueroa vs. Joet Gonzalez; featherweight
What Kind of Shape is Pacquiao In?
In case you’re wondering about Pacquiao’s conditioning and physique, we can tell you for sure that he doesn’t look 46. In fact, the Filipino legend is ripped ahead of his championship clash with Barrios. Take a look at him in this recent video.
From a mental standpoint, Pacquiao seems determined and confident, but he has maintained the mostly jovial demeanor he took on through the latter part of his prime as a fighter.
In fact, Pacquiao literally burst into laughter during the face-off with Barrios this week.
I wouldn’t worry about Pacquiao taking it seriously. The competitive edge will kick in the moment he gets hit. You’ll see him clap his gloves together and do what he’s always done—try to get it back.
The real question heading into this fight is: does Pacquiao still have the speed, power, reflexes, and wind to compete at the highest level of the sport?
And not to get ahead of ourselves, but based on how Pacquiao’s been talking over the past week, this comeback could last longer than one fight.
There are whispers about a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., which would do serious numbers despite both men’s inactivity and age. Let’s stick with Saturday night to start. And let’s hope Pac-Man has enough in the tank to be entertaining and come out of a world title fight without being hurt.
What About Barrios?
For those who aren’t familiar with the champion, Barrios is a 30-year-old who, like Pacquiao, began his career at a much smaller weight than the one he’ll compete at on Saturday.
Barrios turned pro as a 122-pounder in 2013. He put together a 26-fight win streak to start his career, moving up to 140 pounds. Barrios took his first loss to Gervonta Davis in 2021. Davis won the fight via 11th-round TKO, and Barrios followed that up with a unanimous decision loss to Keith Thurman in 2022 at 147 pounds.
Barrios rebounded with three straight wins, including a unanimous decision victory over Yordenis Ugas in 2023—the last man Pacquiao fought in a professional fight. However, Barrios battled to a draw in his most recent fight against Abel Ramos in November 2024.
Needless to say, Barrios is easily the most vulnerable 147-pound champion for Pacquiao to face, and that concept creates a bit more intrigue.
I’ll cover the entire card, scoring each round on Saturday. Follow me to keep up with the entire fight card.