A former staunch Manny Pacquiao supporter, count respected American veteran ring writer Kevin Iole among those severely critical of the Pinoy ring icon’s comeback fight against reigning American World Boxing Council welterweight champ Mario Barrios for the title slated on July 19.
“If Pacquiao wants to fight—which is a bad idea at his age (46)—he should have to win a couple of fights to put himself back in the rankings,” Iole said on his website yesterday (Wednesday in the US).
“No one is going to do that though, because they all know there is a good chance Pacquiao would lose before he ever gets back to a championship level,” added the revered American sports scribe, who headlined his opinion piece “Manny Pacquiao’s comeback is a farce, but it’s typical boxing fare.”
To lend legitimacy to Pacman’s title crack, the Mexico-based world pro boxing body has listed him as No. 5 in its ratings, with no less than the full support of WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman.
“Want to know why boxing has struggled for credibility for decades? Want to know why mainstream media turned its back on the sport when Howard Cosell and not Stephen A. Smith was still the big thing on TV? Want to know why boxing makes the NHL look well run?” Iole asked.
“Well, on July 19, Manny Pacquiao will fight Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title. That’s 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao,” he pointed out. “That’s the Manny Pacquiao who hasn’t won a fight since July 20, 2019. That’s the Manny Pacquiao who hasn’t taken a fight since Aug. 21, 2021.
“This is the Manny Pacquiao who struggled to a draw last July against an unknown 28-year-old Japanese MMA fighter,” Iole elaborated.
“These are just a few of the reasons boxing has shed more credibility than a televangelist in a strip joint. It (the Pacquiao-Barrios title match) makes no sense. There is nothing competitive, compelling or credible about it,” he argued.
“As my old friend, the late boxing writer Jack Welsh, would say, giving Pacquiao a title shot at this point is absolutely ridiculous,” he added.
But he cited the major reason why the parties involved want the fight to push through.
“It will go on because Pacquiao wants the money, he’ll mean a big sanction fee to the WBC and there aren’t many draws left in the sport,” he noted.
He suggested that the popular Filipino boxing star remain retired because “Pacquiao is a legend in this sport and rightfully will enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame next month. He’s one of the greatest fighters who ever lived.
“But he was great in his 20s and into his mid-30s. He’s not great now; not even close.”
He also cited the rationale why Pacquiao, who has a record of 62 wins, 39 by knockout, eight losses and two draws, would find Barrios, 29, who has won 29 times (19 KOs), lost twice and drawn once, an attractive opponent in his pro ring return after a four-year absence.
“Barrios is 29 and a good fighter, though hardly great. He’s never going to be a star the caliber of a Pacquiao or a Floyd Mayweather, but he’s an entertaining guy to watch,” Iole said.
“But if he were to lose to a nearly 47-year-old former politician — Pacquiao was defeated Monday in another bid for a Senate seat in the Philippines — it’d basically destroy him as any kind of attraction. If he wins, well, he beat an old guy who hadn’t won since a dozen eggs cost less than the rent payment,” the boxing columnist said cheekily.
