The recent news that boxing legend Manny Pacquiao may be in line for a shot at the WBC welterweight title has sparked excitement among fans. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman expressed his enthusiasm for the potential matchup, stating that he would give his blessing for Pacquiao to challenge Mario Barrios for the championship. Sulaiman even went as far as to say that a Pacquiao comeback at the age of 45 would be “sensational.”
While Sulaiman is optimistic about Pacquiao’s chances against any fighter, there are valid concerns about the Filipino boxer’s ability to compete at the highest level at this stage of his career. In his last fight against Yordenis Ugas, Pacquiao showed signs of decline and was unable to secure a victory. While Pacquiao is still fast and dynamic, the question remains – can he really beat a much younger fighter like Barrios, who is 16 years his junior?
One of the key debates surrounding the potential Pacquiao-Barrios matchup is whether it is fair for Pacquiao to jump the queue and get a shot at the title ahead of other contenders, such as Souleymane Cissokho, who is currently the No. 1 contender in the WBC welterweight rankings. While Sulaiman has given his approval for the fight to take place, the question of fairness lingers.
With the green light given by the WBC president, the focus now shifts to whether Pacquiao and Barrios, along with their respective teams, can come to terms and make a deal for the fight to happen. If the matchup does materialize, it will be interesting to see if Pacquiao can defy the odds and become a world champion once again at the age of 45.
While the prospect of Manny Pacquiao fighting for the WBC welterweight title is an exciting one, there are doubts surrounding his ability to compete against younger and more active fighters in the division. The potential matchup against Mario Barrios raises questions about fairness and whether Pacquiao should be given the opportunity to jump the queue for a title shot. Only time will tell if Pacquiao can once again defy expectations and cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats in the sport of boxing.