BY SHANNON SHIN – SPORTS ON AIR US CONTRIBUTOR
Manny Pacquiao shocked the boxing world once again, stepping into the ring at 46 years old not for an exhibition, but for a legitimate title fight. Facing Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Pacquiao showed flashes of his prime, pushing the younger champion to the brink. The bout ended in a draw, leaving many fans and pundits unsatisfied.
For some, including Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr., the outcome should have been different.
“Honestly, I thought Pacquiao did enough to win the fight and should be the world champion right now – it was an incredible performance at 46 years old,” Jones told The Ring.
Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) came close to seizing the WBC welterweight belt. Though the decision didn’t go his way, talk of his return is already circulating, with December – coinciding with his 47th birthday – floated as a possible comeback date. A queue of contenders awaits him, with names like Gervonta Davis, Ryan García, Rolando Romero, and Teófimo López Jr. all hungry for a shot at the Filipino legend.
Jones, who fought well into his late 40s, believes Pacquiao still has the tools to compete with select opponents. “He’s not going to go through a lineup of killers again,” Jones said, “but against fighters still searching for their identity, he’ll beat most of them.”
For Pacquiao, the fire remains. And as Jones noted, the doubters only fuel a champion’s drive — proving age may slow the body, but not the heart.
