From an epic undisputed light heavyweight title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol to a fight card in New York’s Times Square, there have been plenty of memorable moments and now Manny Pacquiao will return the ring  after nearly four years away against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.

With the fight set to take place on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas hosting the bout, it is a contest which in my opinion should not be happening.

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Pacquiao was be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame last month and rightly so. He is boxing’s only eight-weight world champion and has provided many memorable fight nights for boxing fans across the world.

The timing is somewhat ironic. This induction should be the final chapter for Pacquiao’s boxing career and one looked back on with fondness.

Pacquiao jumps WBC world title queue

Instead, Pacquiao will jump the queue ahead of several welterweight contenders to face Barrios for a world title. It is clear to see why, Pacquiao is a name which will generate attention and pay-per-view buys regardless.

With boxing at its peak once more, this decision to allow Pacquiao to get a world title will add a familiar stain to the sport with fans baffled by the decisions made by the WBC.

Taking a brief look at the governing body’s rankings, Pacquiao has straightaway been installed at number five following the latest update on May 12.

If I was one of the WBC’s top 10 contenders, I would be frustrated with someone who has been retired for nearly four years being fast tracked to the sport’s biggest prize whilst all that hard work put in by the contenders appears to be for nothing. Not to forget the fees that have to be paid to the WBC to be a part of their ranking system.

It’s not just boxing politics which makes the return of Pacquiao a mockery, it is also what could transpire inside the ring between two fighters at two different ends of their respective careers.

Father time waits for no one

Barrios is 30, whilst Pacquiao is 46. That is a 16-year age gap. In boxing, that is a dangerous chasm. Immediately fitness comes to mind. Pacquiao is never one to let himself go outside the ring, but boxing is a brutal sport, and I fear Barrios could do irreversible damage to an ageing Pacquiao who is past his best.

Before retiring following his unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021, Pacquiao had amassed a three-fight winning streak, but just one of them came by knockout.

While I have no doubt that Pacquiao is more than able to last the full 12 rounds against Barrios, I’m more concerned about the reactions. No doubt if he fails to roll back the years, Pacquiao will receive significant criticism from those watching a performance which tarnish what is an unbelievable legacy.

On Thursday, it was 17 years since Pacquiao first met Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas. This fight kicked off an epic four-fight series between the two with the final meeting taking place in December 2012.

The first meeting with Marquez sent Pacquiao into the stratosphere after stopping Marco Antonio Barrera and made him the boxing legend he is today.

However, while he will still be considered a legend if he decides to end his retirement against Barrios, I can’t help but feel it is a step too far for a fighter not far off reaching 50 and add an unnecessary stain to one of the greatest to lace up a pair of boxing gloves.

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