WORLD Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios and Filipino challenger Manny Pacquiao were given a clean bill of health by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, paving the way for a potential rematch and other possibilities for the two fighters, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announced on his official X account.
“Just received from @Vada_Testing the final notification of testing performed on @MannyPacquiao and Mario Barrios for their fight, and all negative,” Sulaimán said on X that was reported by a sports website yesterday (Wednesday in the US).
“He also thanked Premier Boxing Champions and (PBC head) Al Haymon for ensuring the event complied with the ‘Clean Boxing Program,’” the report said.
Proving that he was far from over the hill at 46, Pacquiao emerged from a four-year layoff and gamely battled and hurt Barrios, resulting in a majority draw in their world title fight last July 20 at the packed MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
The inconclusive outcome in front of a predominantly pro-Pacman crowd that allowed “El Azteca” to narrowly cling to his crown showed that the popular Filipino fighter is still in competitive form and a bankable commodity.
Several fighters outside of Barrios, who is keen on a rematch, have been mentioned as promising foes for Pacquiao, among them young American guns Rolly Romero, 29, who holds the World Boxing Association welterweight belt, and WBA lightweight champ Gervonta “Tank” Davis, 30, a southpaw like the Filipino.
There was also a report from Down Under that No Limit chief executive officer George Rose was willing to bankroll a match between Pacman and rising Australian star Liam Paro.
It will be recalled that unheralded Australian Jeff Horn wrested the Filipino boxer’s World Boxing Organization welterweight belt via a controversial unanimous decision win in front of a full-house Suncorp Stadium on July 2, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia.
“Some still say Pacman was robbed, while others call Jeff Horn’s win one of the greatest upsets of all time,” Rose said in a recent interview on Fox Sports Australia.
“We’re now offering Manny the chance to settle unfinished business against another proud Queenslander in Liam Paro,” added Rose of his protege, a former International Boxing Federation light-welterweight champion.
“We’re about building boxing history here in Australia and No Limit is ready to deliver something truly special,” Rose said. “If Manny wants one more fight to right some wrongs, we want to give it to him, right here in Brisbane.
“Liam is world-rated and ready to lead Australian boxing into the next era. And there’s no bigger name than Manny Pacquiao.”
Standing at 5-foot-8, Paro, 29, has a record of 32 wins, half of them by knockout, against two losses.
