Manny Pacquiao is ready to take on the challenge of facing WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquiao isn’t letting age dictate the outcome of his next fight.
Set to challenge reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, the 46-year-old Filipino boxing legend downplayed the 16-year age gap between him and the 30-year-old American titleholder.
[ALSO READ: Manny Pacquiao announces boxing return vs WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios]
Speaking in a recent interview on The George Janko Show, Pacquiao said he welcomes the challenge of facing a younger champion.
"He's a champion in my division, so I'm going to challenge him," said Pacquiao. "I'm excited because he's the champion, and I want to become a champion again."
[ALSO READ: How Manny Pacquiao became the only eight-division world champion in boxing history]
Pacquiao has never shied away from facing younger, taller, and seemingly more favored opponents. He famously defeated Keith Thurman in 2019 at age 40, handing the then-undefeated WBA welterweight champion his first professional loss.
“When I fought Thurman, he was 29 years old, taller than me, 29 wins, 22 knockouts, no loss,” Pacquiao recalled. “I just want to sacrifice myself in training like that—do the work.”
After nearly four years away from the ring, Pacquiao is back under the guidance of legendary coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
The duo is preparing for a fight that could not only add another belt to Pacquiao’s decorated career, especially after just recently being inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.
Should Pacquiao defeat Barrios, he would make history as the first boxer to claim a world title after being inducted into the Hall of Fame.