A legend looks to return to his former glory when Manny Pacquiao comes out of retirement to face WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19. The fight airs on Prime Video.
Pacquiao (62-8-2) is an eight-division champion. The former Senator of the Philippines, 46, last fought in 2021, retiring after losing against Yordenis Ugas.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, Pacquiao still has that desire to compete. He’s ready to prove he hasn’t lost a step on fight night.
“I’m coming back because boxing is my passion,” Pacquiao told ESPN. “It’s all I think about, and I really like to make history.”
Barrios (29-2-1) beat Ugas for interim gold and was eventually named the full-time WBC champion. Competing on the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson undercard, a draw against Abel Ramos brought him newfound fame. With more recognition, the 30-year-old wants to continue holding onto gold.
While retired, Pacquiao has competed in exhibition fights. He returns against a game Barrios, who will not go easy on the legendary boxer.
“It was cool that he knew who I was and wanted to fight me, but I didn’t know if to take it as a form of respect or disrespect because he wanted to fight me,” Barrios said via ESPN. “I respect him, but he’s trying to take my title, and I have to make sure that he doesn’t.”
Two rematches headline the Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios undercard, while former champions and young contenders look to impress.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Pacquiao vs. Barrios card.
Sebastian Fundora vs. Tim Tszyu 2
- Division/Weight: Super Welterweight
- Fundora record: 22-1-1
- Tszyu record: 25-2
- Belts at stake: WBC super welterweight title
The co-feature will see a rematch between WBC super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu.
When the two faced off last March, Tszyu (25-2) was bleeding badly around his eye following an accidental elbow. Fundora (22-1-1) was also bleeding by the nose, and the two engaged in a bloody slugfest for twelve rounds.
MORE: Who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world?
Fundora beat Tszyu to win super welterweight gold. He retained his titles against Chordale Booker in March. “The Towering Inferno” vacated the WBO belt for this fight to happen.
Tszyu (25-2) held interim WBO super welterweight gold and was eventually elevated to the full-time champion after waiting for Jermell Charlo. After the Fundora fight, he got knocked out against Bakhram Murtazaliev, but recovered in April against Joseph Spencer.
Isaac Cruz vs. Angel Fierro 2
- Division/Weight: Super Lightweight
- Cruz record: 27-3-1
- Cruz record: 23-3-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
In another rematch, Isaac Cruz faces Angel Fierro.
When they fought in February, Cruz outlanded Fierro in the first half of the fight, but Fierro, known for his granite chin, surged back in the latter rounds. Cruz won via unanimous decision
Cruz (27-3-1) beat Rolando Romero in March 2024 to become the WBA super lightweight champion, but he lost the belt a few months later against Jose Valenzuela.
Fierro (23-3-2) has quickly risen up the WBO rankings. He’s 2-2 in his last four fights and has 18 wins via knockout.
Brandon Figueroa vs. Joet Gonzalez
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Figueroa record: 25-2-1
- Gonzalez record: 27-4
- Belts at stake: N/A
Brandon Figueroa faces Joet Gonzalez.
Figueroa (25-2-1) is a former super bantamweight champion. “The Heartbreaker” won interim featherweight gold and was elevated to full-time champion status after beating Jessie Magdaleno. The 28-year-old lost the belt against Stephen Fulton in February.
A two-time U.S. National Championships medalist, Gonzalez (27-4) has unsuccessfully fought for gold three times. The 31-year-old, with 15 wins via knockout, is 2-2 in his last four fights.
Gary Russell Jr. vs. Hugo Castaneda
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Russell record: 31-2
- Castaneda record: 15-2-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Gary Russell Jr. returns to action against Hugo Castaneda.
A five-time amateur medalist, Russell (31-2) is a former WBC featherweight champion. From 2015 to 2022, Russell, also a trainer for his family, competed once a year. It’s his first contest since losing gold against Mark Magsayo three years ago.
MORE: Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano become boxing immortals as they transcend women’s boxing
Castaneda (15-2-1) is 2-1 in his last three fights. “Tigre,” 23, has eleven wins via knockout.
David Picasso vs. Kyonosuke Kameda
- Division/Weight: Super Bantamweight
- Picasso record: 31-0-1
- Kameda record: 15-4-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card, David Picasso will face Kyonosuke Kameda.
Picasso (31-0-1) is a former NABF super bantamweight champion. The 24-year-old won five fights in 2024. He’s ranked No. 1 in the WBC’s super bantamweight rankings, and a win could bring him closer to facing Naoya Inoue.
Kameda (15-4-2) competes in the U.S. for the first time. The Japanese fighter is looking for a rebound win after losing in February against Luis Nery.
Mark Magsayo vs. Jorge Mata
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Rivera record: 27-2
- Roldan record: 21-2-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Mark Magsayo faces Jorge Mata.
A four-time amateur champion, Magsayo (27-2) has gone 3-2 since beating Gary Russell Jr. in 2022. On a three-fight win streak, the 30-year-old has 18 wins via knockout.
Mata (21-2-2) is on a five-fight win streak and looks to go 2-0 in 2025. The 24-year-old Mexican has 13 wins via knockout.
Abel Ramos vs. Jose Luis Sanchez
- Division/Weight: Welterweight
- Ramos record: 28-6-3
- Sanchez record: 14-5-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Abel Ramos clashes against Jose Luis Sanchez.
Ramos (28-6-3) last fought in November, fighting Mario Barrios to a draw in an entertaining affair. The 34-year-old has 22 wins via knockout.
MORE: Boxing Schedule 2025
Sanchez (14-5-1) has held NABF gold in the past. The 32-year-old is 2-2 in his last four fights.
Omar Salcido vs. Brian Gallegos
- Division/Weight: Super Lightweight
- Salcido record: 20-2
- Gallegos record: 8-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Omar Salcido faces Brian Gallegos.
Salcido (20-2) is 2-2 in his last two fights and looks for his first win of 2025 after losing against Andy Cruz in January. Gallegos (8-1) is on a two-fight win streak after returning to boxing for the first time in five years.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, July 19
- Time: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT | 1 a.m. BST | 10 a.m. AEST
- Main event start time (approx.): 11:15 p.m. ET | 8:15 p.m. PT | 4:15 a.m. BST | 1:15 p.m. AEST
- Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas
- Live stream: Prime Video
- Prime Video: $8.99/month | Ad-free: $11.98/month
- Prime Video with Prime membership: $14.99/month | Ad-free: $17.98/month | $139/year
- PPV Price: $79.95
Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios will be on Prime Video. The PPV price is $79.95
Read the full article here