Manny Pacquiao is back! And not just back, but straight into a world title fight. At 46 years old, having been out of the ring for four years, he gets a shot at the WBC welterweight title against champion Mario Barrios.

The fight is pencilled in for 19 July, with the venue still to be confirmed, though Las Vegas looks the most likely.

Naturally, concerns have been raised about Pacquiao’s wellbeing, but the division he’s stepping into is nothing like the one he left.

Not long ago, welterweight was packed with talent. Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, Terence Crawford were all big names lighting up the division. They have either retired or moved up in weight, Crawford in particular jumping several divisions.

So, is Pacquiao’s comeback as dangerous as it sounds?

Back in 2019, a 40-year-old Pacquiao took on a 30-year-old Keith Thurman, who was considered one of the best at the time. Pacquiao’s speed and timing were too much, earning him a split-decision victory.

Six years later, he faces 30-year-old Mario Barrios.

Barrios, a solid fighter from San Antonio, Texas, holds a record of 29-2-1 (18 KOs). His only defeats came at the hands of Keith Thurman in 2022 and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis in 2021. No shame in losing to either.

But Barrios never won the WBC title in the ring. He was elevated to full champion after Terence Crawford vacated the belt to move up to light-middleweight.

His most recent fight wasn’t exactly inspiring. He earned a split-decision draw against Abel Ramos, whose 28-6-2 record hardly suggests an elite contender. With a 62 per cent KO ratio, Barrios isn’t known for devastating power.

Now, if Pacquiao were taking on someone like Jaron Ennis or Brian Norman Jr., then the concerns would be justified. But if he is coming out of retirement and stepping straight into a title fight, Barrios is probably the best option.

Pacquiao is a true icon of the sport, set to be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame this year.

But the real question is whether we want to see a diminished Pacquiao in the ring, risking the memories we have of him.

This happens to most fighters. They struggle to leave the stage, chasing one last shot at glory. Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson all kept fighting beyond their peak, unable to resist the call of the ring.

A loss won’t tarnish Pacquiao’s legacy. But the real worry isn’t defeat, it’s his health.

No matter how great he was, and no matter how beatable Barrios looks on paper, stepping into the ring at 46 years old is never without risk.

There is plenty more to unfold as the countdown to 19 July begins.

Images: Getty