“MANNY Pacquiao is making an astonishing return to the boxing ring in Las Vegas. The 46-year-old icon is looking to become the sport’s oldest welterweight world champion as he faces Mario Barrios for his WBC strap. Pacquiao has not featured professionally since retiring in August 2021, following a defeat to Yordenis Ugas. Tonight’s huge bill”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
MANNY Pacquiao is making an astonishing return to the boxing ring in Las Vegas.
The 46-year-old icon is looking to become the sport’s oldest welterweight world champion as he faces Mario Barrios for his WBC strap.
Pacquiao has not featured professionally since retiring in August 2021, following a defeat to Yordenis Ugas.
Tonight’s huge bill also features a blockbuster rematch between Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu as the Australian looks to reclaim the WBC super welterweight title he lost in March last year.
Follow our live blog below…
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios (Round 7)Barrios is still not changing his approach in this fight.
He continues to box from behind that jab.
The crowd goes wild towards the end of the round as Pacquiao lets his hands go and fires off a barrage of landed punches.
He is rolling back the years here tonight.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios (Round 7)Some great surges from Pacquiao in that round.
When they are in the middle of the ring and the Filipino is able to come inside, he is offloading some heavy punches.
Despite the good work from Barrios in that round, you have to feel that one went to Pacquiao.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios (Round 6)Barrios is looking to come inside more now.
It allows Pacquiao to unload and he catches him with some good shots.
The jab is still the biggest point-scoring punch from Barrios but he is starting to feel some of these Pacman combos.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios (Round 5)You wonder if Barrios is showing too much respect to Pacquiao.
Either that or he is looking to take him further into the fight before looking to take the fight to him more.
Barrios continues to work the jab but Pacquiao lands some good hits towards the end of the round.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios (Round 4)The Pacman is looking to land more punches now.
He waits for Barrios to follow his jab up by coming inside and picks him off with two-punch combos.
This crowd are going wild everytime Manny lands punches.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios (Round 3)Pacquiao complains during the round about low punches.
It is not something that the referee seems to have issue with.
Barrios continues to work the jab and Pacquiao realises he needs to get inside more in order to let his hands go.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios (Round 2)Barrios is still boxing well behind his jab.
His extra reach allows him to keep Pacquiao at bay.
The Pacman lands a good two-punch combo but Barrios wears it well.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios (Round 1)Barrios is trying to establish the jab early on.
Pacquiao is looking to come inside and open up the chance to unleash that left of his.
The crowd go wild as soon as he lets his hands go.
His hand speed looks good as does his movement in that first round.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario BarriosThe Pacman makes his way into the ring.
Firstly it is to the theme of ‘Hall of Fame’ by The Script.
As he gets into the ring it changes to ‘Eye of the Tiger’.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario BarriosThis fight is high risk for Pacquiao.
Anything but victory really has the potential to diminish what he has previously done in the sport.
In the first three rounds we should see if he still has the skills to pay the bills in boxing.
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Manny Pacquiao vs Mario BarriosWe are moments away from the main event.
Both boxers are going through their final preparations before heading into the ring.
All the talk is whether Pacquiao still has the skills he once had.
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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim Tszyu That was a bizarre end to the fight.
It is not clear whether it was Tszyu’s corner or the fighter himself that conceded.
As the post-fight interviews are carried out, Tszyu reveals that he did not want to continue and described Fundora as ‘one tough mother******’.
- Sebastian Fundora wins by stoppage
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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim Tszyu (Round 7)What a round of boxing that was.
Tszyu catches Fundora with an explosive right to the head.
The pair exchange some thunderous blows until the bell stops them.
Immediately after it sounds, Tszyu seems to be struggling to make it back to his own corner.
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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim Tszyu (Round 6)The power behind the Fundora punches seem to have dropped off quite a lot.
Whether that is tiredness or just the shots he has had to wear from Tszyu.
The American needs to be careful as he is at risk of letting Tszyu back into this fight.
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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim Tszyu (Round 5)Fundora is landing so many more punches than his opponent.
However, he needs to keep his jab active to keep Tszyu from coming inside.
This is still a hard one to call as all it takes is for Tszyu to land some of these wild haymaker overhand shots.
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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim Tszyu (Round 4)This is turning into a great watch once again.
Fundora is using the jab well and getting some real heavy punches through the Tszyu defence.
However, the Australian is landing some big overhand rights, one of which bloodies the nose of the American.
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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim Tszyu (Round 3)Fundora continues to dominate this fight.
His nine inch or so reach advantage is killing Tszyu.
He continues to try and work that cut above the right eye.
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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim Tszyu (Round 2)This one is starting to heat up.
Tszyu takes a more conservative approach but Fundora lannds a combination of punches with no reply.
He has openneed up a but above the right eye of the Australian.
Fundora continues to dominate the round, Tszyu iis just looking to land big overhand counters and catches the American flush with one.
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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim Tszyu (Round 1)Fundora makes the perfect start to this fight.
Tszyu looks to take the fight to his opponent and is having to box upwards due to the height disadvantage.
Towards the end of the round, Fundora catches him with a straight left that drops him to the canvas.
The Australian takes an eight count before being able to continue.
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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim TszyuThe last time this pair met, Fundora stepped in as a late replacement.
Little did Tszyu know that this would be the man to take his title from him.
That defeat hurt the Australian and he wants to set the record straight.
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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim TszyuNext up we have a much-anticipated rematch.
Fundora was the victor last time in a very bloody battle.
Australian Tim Tszyu is now looking to get his belt back that he lost in that fight.
- Isaac Cruz wins by unanimous decision
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Isaac Cruz vs Omar Salcido Gamez (Round 10)Cruz lands a barrage of punches that seem to have Salcido on the ropes.
He resorts to holding the gloves of Cruz to prevent the knockdown.
Finally the referee deducts a point for the constant holding.
However, he goes the distance and takes this one to the card.
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Isaac Cruz vs Omar Salcido Gamez (Round 9)This seems like it is heading to the judges’ card.
Although all that should give us is a unanimous decision for Cruz.
There are completely different levels between these two fighters.