Unexpected Echo of a Legend
Manny Pacquiao, a multi-time champion and one of the ring’s leading icons of the 21st century, returns to the boxing stage after a significant hiatus. On 19 July, the Filipino great will face interim WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios. The very fact that the veteran is granted an immediate title shot after such a long pause has stirred the boxing community.
"Business Without Saints": Criticism of the WBC
Gennadiy Mashyanov, coach of light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, does not hide his frustration. According to him, the World Boxing Council has long turned into a commercial machine: "Sport is far from their top priority; it serves merely as background noise for the ringing cash register. Allowing Pacquiao to step straight into a title bout is a financial decision, not a sporting one." The coach is convinced that every big name is automatically converted into dollars, and the WBC willingly capitalizes on it.
What Motivates Pacquiao?
The main puzzle is why the 45-year-old national hero of the Philippines is returning to grueling training and the danger of punches. As Mashyanov emphasizes, Manny has earned more than enough: his tenure as a senator, business ventures, and endorsement deals ensure a comfortable life. Perhaps nostalgia for the arena’s adrenaline drives him, or maybe it is the desire to place the final period with his own hand. Yet every new appearance in the ring carries the risk of tarnishing a spotless reputation built over decades.
The Dangers of a Rematch With Time
Barrios is younger, active, and clearly hungry for a marquee victory. For Pacquiao, this fight will test not only his physical condition but also the split-second decision-making that once made him unpredictable. One wrong move, and the legend may become an easy target for critics who believe it is time to say "enough" in boxing.
Whether the great southpaw can find balance between legacy and ambition will become clear this summer, when the bell signals the beginning—rather than the end—of his story.
