On the night of December 8, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Juan Manuel Márquez avenged his previous defeats by knocking out Manny Pacquiao with a powerful right hand. It took 42 rounds for ‘Dinamita’ to finally secure victory over ‘Pacman’. Nearly 13 years later, Pacquiao is set to return to this iconic venue in a new boxing challenge.
Boxing fans are eagerly anticipating the comeback of one of the sport’s greatest legends. After a four-year retirement, Pacquiao is scheduled to fight American Mario ‘Azteca’ Barrios for the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title on Saturday, July 19. This match is headlining a card that also features a rematch between Mexicans Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz and Ángel ‘Tashiro’ Fierro for the interim super lightweight belt. While there is excitement surrounding Pacquiao’s return, it also brings a sense of uncertainty within the boxing community.
At 46 years old, Pacquiao is renowned for his historic rivalry with Márquez, which consists of four bouts that significantly impacted the sport. Although Márquez is now on the sidelines, he has not criticized Pacquiao’s decision to return to the ring. Instead, he expressed support, stating, “Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. He is an experienced fighter who trains well and is disciplined. If you add great conditioning to that, I think that bodes well for Manny.”
However, Márquez cautioned his former adversary about the challenges of facing a younger opponent like Barrios, highlighting that, “The youth of Mario Barrios is also an important point. We’ll see how much enthusiasm the Filipino brings into the ring, that will be crucial.”
The rivalry between Pacquiao and Márquez began on May 8, 2004, in a controversial match that ended in a draw. Subsequent bouts featured narrow decisions by judges that kept fans debating, until the climax in 2012 when Márquez delivered a historic knockout to end the long-standing dispute over who had the upper hand.
Now, as Pacquiao prepares to step back into the ring where he previously faced defeat, he faces the daunting task of overcoming Barrios, a champion who is 16 years younger and eager to make his mark in boxing.
This matchup not only represents a personal challenge for Pacquiao but also an exciting opportunity for fans who have long followed his storied career. As he embarks on this new chapter, many hope that his experience and discipline will shine through once more.