Manny Pacquiao takes over as the no. 1 ranked WBC welterweight after fighting current champion Mario Barrios to a majority draw last month.
Turning back the clock in his comeback fight against Mario Barrios, Manny Pacquiao appears to have found a second wind in his boxing career.
In the recent rankings released by the World Boxing Council, Pacquiao was named the no. 1 welterweight contender. This should put him in line for a potential rematch with Barrios, who kept the WBC welterweight championship after a majority draw with the Filipino icon last month.
[READ: Pacquiao-Barrios ends in majority draw; Barrios retains WBC welterweight crown]
Pacquiao’s inclusion is a redemption of some sorts after the WBC rescinded a previous decision that had him at no. 5 in the rankings prior to his fight against Barrios.
A heavy underdog against the much-younger Barrios, Pacquiao stood toe to toe against the American.
In fact, Pacquiao was leading on all scorecards through nine rounds and a victory would have made him the second-oldest world champion in boxing history.
[RELATED: Manny Pacquiao ranked no. 5 welterweight amid fight rumors vs WBC champ Mario Barrios]
After the bout, Pacquiao said that he believed that he had won the fight — and many experts agreed.
Now, though, Pacquiao’s position as the top contender can open more doors for him with opportunities for more fights in the future.