Boxing

Manny Pacquiao Shrugs Off Mario Barrios 16-Year Age Gap With Chill 4-Word Reply

Manny Pacquiao only needed 4 words to address being 16 years older than his upcoming opponent Mario Barrios.
Grant Young|
Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino boxer seen during a press conference on July 21, 2023.
Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino boxer seen during a press conference on July 21, 2023. | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

There has been a lot of chatter about 46-year-old Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring against reigning champion Mario Barrios later this summer, ever since this was announced last week.

Much of this chatter has pertained to Pacquiao's age. Not only is he 16 years older than his opponent, but he hadn't looked good in the fights he had before entering retirement. Therefore, given that Barrios is in the prime of his career, there's clear concern from Pacquiao's devoted fanbase that he has bit off way more than he can chew and is risking his health by stepping into the ring.

When Pacquiao's head trainer Buboy Fernandez spoke with FightHype on May 19, he was asked about fans being concerned with Pacquiao still fighting at 46 years of age and said, “Don't judge the number, judge the punch."

Fans are hoping that Pacquiao's punching power shows itself when he enters the ring against Barrios.

In the meantime, they're going to have to trust not only Fernandez's sentiment about the age gap, but also what Pacquiao had as a message when asked about being 16 years older than his upcoming opponent, which was conveyed during a May 19 interview with FightHype.

“Don’t worry about it," Pacquiao said with a laugh when asked about Barrios having the youth advantage.

Perhaps if Pacquiao is this unconcerned, his fans can exhale and feel more optimistic about his chances against Barrios this summer.

Then again, maybe Pacquiao isn't worried because he knows the amount of money he's making in his return.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young is a Staff Writer for On SI’s Boxing, New York Mets, Indiana Fever, and Women’s Fastbreak sites. Before joining SI in 2024, he wrote for various boxing and sports verticals such as FanBuzz and NY Fights. Young has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s degree in creative writing with an emphasis on sports nonfiction from the University of San Francisco, where he played five seasons of Division 1 baseball. He fought Muay Thai professionally in Thailand in 2023, loves a good essay, and is driven crazy trying to handle a pitpull puppy named Aura. Young lives in San Diego and was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.