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Forbes
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios, How To Watch And What's At Stake
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 25: Manny Pacquiao trains at Wild Card Boxing Club on June 25, 2025 ... More in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring on Saturday, July 19 when he challenges WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios for his 147-pound title. Pacquiao, 46 is looking to turn back the clock and shake off the rust after last fighting professionally in August 2021. Barrios, 30 will be making his second title defense after battling Abel Ramos to a draw in November 2024 on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson. Here's how you can watch the fight. Here's a look at the Pacquiao-Barrios undercard, which is a really solid lineup of fights. Pacquiao's return comes nearly three years after a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugás on August 21, 2021, at T-Mobile Arena. That fight was for the WBA (Super) welterweight title, and it seemed to mark the end of Pacquiao's long-standing relationship with Premier Boxing Champions. However, Saturday's fight will be a PBC event. Shortly after the loss, Pacquiao officially announced his retirement from boxing in September 2021 to focus on his political career. He ran for president of the Philippines in 2022 but was unsuccessful, but he still remains active in politics in his home country. Known for his speed, volume, and explosive footwork, Pacquiao is widely considered one of the greatest fighters of all time. He is boxing's only eight-division world champion, having won twelve major titles across weight classes ranging from flyweight to super welterweight. His resume includes wins over the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, and Juan Manuel Márquez. Pacquiao compiled a record of 62 wins (39 by knockout), 8 losses, and 2 draws. One may ask why he feels the need to climb back into the ring, but he isn't the first legend to attempt what some might call an ill-advised comeback, and he won't be the last. Barrios enters the fight as the reigning WBC welterweight champion. He won the vacant interim title with a unanimous decision over Ugás on March 30, 2024. That bout, held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was a major career resurgence for Barrios, who previously held the WBA (Regular) super lightweight title from 2019 to 2021. Barrios' record stands at 28 wins (18 by knockout), 2 losses, and 1 draw. It'll be interesting to see Gary Russell Jr. back in the ring. The oft-inactive but wildly talented former champion hasn't fought since January 2022 when he lost a majority decision to Mark Magsayo. At 37, we'll see how much Russell still has left in the tank. That seems to be a theme of the event at the beginning and through the main event when Pacquiao epitomizes the concept against Barrios. Be on the lookout for fight week coverage as we move closer to Saturday night.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mario Barrios, Manny Pacquiao and the sad reality of pulling the KO trigger on a legend
LAS VEGAS — Mike Tyson started his eight-round fight against Jake Paul hard and fast last year but fizzled out after two minutes, failed to land a jab in four subsequent rounds and became a sitting duck at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Paul had a decision to make. And it all came down to whether he was comfortable pulling the knockout trigger against a middle-aged legend. As the listless fight edged closer to the decision, it became clear Paul either couldn't — or just didn't want to — cause that kind of damage to a man he collaborated with for a rap music video four years prior. Advertisement Tyson went from the baddest man on the planet in his prime to the saddest against Paul, leading to an uncomfortable viewing experience. Paul said at the time of the fight this past November he 'didn't want to hurt someone that didn't need to be hurt." Fast forward eight months and WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios is welcoming Manny Pacquiao, another of the sport's icons, back to the ring July 19. The world title fight headlines a Premier Boxing Champions card Prime Video will air as a pay-per-view from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It's one of the marquee events of boxing's summer schedule. The 46-year-old Pacquiao is 12 years younger than Tyson was when he fought Paul on Netflix. But Barrios, 30, is a hell of a lot more talented right now than Paul was back then. The difference in skill level in the two fights offsets the age gaps. Regardless, Bob Santos, who coaches Barrios, played down any comparison between the two fights when Uncrowned raised concerns about history possibly repeating itself. Advertisement 'Manny's not that far removed from his last fight, whereas Mike hadn't fought [a professional fight in 19 years],' he said. 'I think Manny's body is more battle-ready as he's not been the guy who's a drinker, a smoker, or any of those types of things. And he's much younger [than Tyson], and the last thing to go is a punch.' Pacquiao looks good in the training clips that have been shared online as he prepares for Barrios. But, then, so did Tyson ahead of the Paul bout. There is a scenario in which Pacquiao starts fast but fizzles out. Maybe he lasts longer than the single round Tyson managed to look decent, but if he fades a few rounds in, or by the middle of the fight, can Barrios pull the trigger, or will he have too much empathy for a living legend struggling in his comeback? Advertisement 'If we're in the sixth and seventh round, and we have a chance to take him out, we will,' Santos vowed. 'We have to do that, because if you keep him around, all it takes in this sport is one shot. You could think you're thriving in the fight, but, then — boom! It's good night [and you've lost]. If the opportunity comes to take Manny out, we are taking him out.' Pacquiao said he's working hard to ensure he still has the stamina to fight a 12-round championship. At age 46, Manny Pacquiao is once again returning to the ring. (ROBYN BECK via Getty Images) 'I'm still enjoying running the mountains,' Pacquiao told Uncrowned this month. 'This is a blessing as not every fighter has this feeling. I've been through big fights in my career, and I'm still here. I'm back. Advertisement 'I'm the challenger, so I know I have to go the extra mile and punish myself in training to win the fight. That's the goal.' When Uncrowned spoke to Barrios, he, too, contemplated the possibility of Pacquiao looking his years in the ring, and the in-ring decision he'll then have to make between uncorking a knockout punch or carrying the Filipino to the scorecards — as Paul suggested he did for Tyson. But unlike Paul, Barrios is 'comfortable with pulling the trigger,' he said. It's the professional thing to do. 'Manny has been doing this his whole life and understands what it takes to go in there,' Barrios said. 'And he's trying to be great. He's trying to do something, fighting for a title at his age — and as a fighter, I have nothing but respect for that. Advertisement 'I know if at any point he has me hurt, then there's no question [he'd pull the trigger on me]. 'So, it's not personal. It's just business.' The WBC champ added: 'I'm honored to be sharing the ring with a legend but, at the end of the day, he's trying to take my title. I'm the champion for a reason. Of course, I'm going to try and take him out. 'I wouldn't call it sad — but that's just the reality of boxing.'
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Plant vs Resendiz: Live updates and results, 8 pm ET
Caleb Plant and Jermall Charlo return tonight in separate super middleweight fights, with an eye toward a meeting between the two later this year if both are victorious. Plant will face Armando Resendiz in the night's main event, with Charlo returning to take on Thomas 'Cornflake' LaManna in the chief support. The four-fight card from Premier Boxing Champions kicks off at 8 pm ET, streaming live on Prime Video. Advertisement Wil Esco will be on your live coverage tonight with highlights, results, and round by round for the two main bouts. Join him! Main Card (Prime Video, 8:00 pm ET) Caleb Plant (23-2, 14 KO) vs Armando Resendiz (15-2, 11 KO) , super middleweights, 12 rounds Jermall Charlo (33-0, 22 KO) vs Thomas LaManna (39-5-1, 18 KO) , super middleweights, 12 rounds Yoenli Feliciano Hernandez (7-0, 7 KO) vs Kyrone Davis (19-3-1, 6 KO) , middleweights, 10 rounds Isaac Lucero (16-0, 12 KO) vs Omar Valenzuela (23-0, 20 KO) , super welterweights, 8 rounds More from
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jermall Charlo is having fun again, but big questions still surround his return to the ring
Jermall Charlo is saying all the right things ahead of his return to the ring Saturday against Thomas LaManna at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. 'I'm excited,' he told Uncrowned. He said he'd welcome a future fight against rival Caleb Plant, who boxes Jose Armando Resendiz in the main event of at the same show, and would fight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez if the opportunity presented itself too. He's even prepared to fight more frequently. Advertisement Charlo, a former two-weight world champion, is one of America's best-known boxers. He has an identical twin named Jermell, who is also a gifted fighter. Combined, they were a driving force for Premier Boxing Champions when the organization aired its events on Showtime Sports. Jermall, though, has been inactive. We've rarely seen him. He's only fought three times in the past five years. The sport of boxing has changed dramatically since he last held a title in 2021. His next bout will be his first on PBC's new broadcast partner, Prime Video, which is a partnership first announced at the end of 2023. There are numerous reasons for Charlo's absence. "When you can't stabilize your mind to think forward, that's where I was at. Not being able to explain it to anyone. Always shielded. I had to fight through my learning experience,' he said on PBC's YouTube channel regarding his struggles with mental health. He told the NY Post two years ago that he was 'dealing with all kinds of cases of [being] bipolar.' He said he turned his back on the world. His brother, Jermell, once said the reason he got the "Canelo" fight in 2023 instead of Jermall was because Jermall wasn't 'in the right mental state' to compete. Advertisement Jermall, though, faced his battles on his own terms, and got better at his own pace. Patience, he said, was key. Charlo's willingness to discuss his vulnerabilities so openly is important because a stigma remains attached to the condition. McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric facility of Harvard Medical School, notes that only "25% of Black people seek mental health treatment when needed, compared to 40% of white people." Christine M. Crawford, MD, MPH, specializes in psychiatry, completed her fellowship at McLean, and said: 'African Americans silently live with mental health challenges for fear of being judged.' For Charlo, there was a period in his life when he 'didn't know what mental health even was.' Advertisement 'A lot of people shy away from showing that sensitive side of themselves," he said in 2023. "Because I'm the champ, they look at me like they expect greatness. And sometimes I don't have that greatness to provide. Then I'm not mentally focused. Now I'm mentally focused, I feel like I'm a better person.' After previous absences from the ring, Charlo has spoken of the need to 'rebuild himself' mentally. And that has never been more apparent than after speaking to him this month. He certainly seems rebuilt. I've been interviewing Charlo for six years. But after speaking to him in 2023, something seemed amiss. He looked vacant. His hair was dishevelled. He was uninterested. Never have I advised a fighter not to fight, but that was the one occasion I was close to penning a column saying his bout against Jose Benavidez Jr. should not go ahead. I even heard from a source close to Charlo that they shared a similar concern. Regardless, Charlo outpointed Benavidez by a 100-90 margin on one of the judges' scorecards. He won with ease. I didn't get to tell Charlo how wrong I was until this month, upon his return to the sport, after another extended spell away. Advertisement It was great to see him smile again. Talking to him in 2025 is like speaking to a different person. He's more engaged, and appears more content. "Having my brother [in camp helps], but on top of that, I rebuilt my team,' he said. This has energized him, he added, because he's now got 'a brotherhood' around him. 'We all believe in God. We're all strong, just knowing things come and go, I got rid of a lot of the drama. Got things out of my life that I won't get that back again. I feel a lot better. It's one of the best camps I had. There's laughter. Fun. It's not about material stuff no more.' Charlo's return to the sport comes at a pivotal time for American boxing considering the significant influence that Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season has. Whether Las Vegas' status as the Fight Capital of the World is under threat from Saudi Arabian finances remains to be seen. But Charlo has been watching with interest from afar. Advertisement His fire, he said, 'is lit.' He added: 'I can't wait to get in there and show the world. I've been waiting on management, promoters, team, to be right, mentally and physically, and give everybody what they want to see [against LaManna].' The biggest difference in the fight game from when Charlo was last the champ, to now, isn't just what Alalshikh brings to boxing, but also the presence of internet sensation Jake Paul. The sport 'is picking up.' Jermall Charlo was sensation in his most recent fight against Jose Benavidez Jr. () (David Becker via Getty Images) 'We're getting back to where we left off," Charlo said. "A lot of things have changed. It's a different era, we're going to the last part of the 2020s and it's a new generation of boxers, going from real-world champions, out of weight classes — which is crazy to me — getting to a point where Floyd [Mayweather] fought a big guy [Logan Paul], now it's going to YouTube, random rappers becoming boxers. You can be a painter, and as long as you can talk a little bit, it can be a pay-per-view bout. It's different.' Advertisement Though there are others, few have crossed over from the influencer scene as well as Paul, who has an 11-1 (7 KOs) pro record and has brought many of the world's best female fighters under one roof at Most Valuable Promotions — a firm he co-founded alongside former UFC executive Nikisa Bidarian. Paul returns June 28 against former champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at a Golden Boy co-promoted show on DAZN. 'He was the first one to do it,' Charlo said of Paul, before remarking that other creators from YouTube are now 'over-saturating' the market and not respecting the sport. 'They haven't known how to put blood, sweat, and tears into it. That's when they're not taking boxing that serious.' Charlo wants to take the sport 'back to how it used to be,' he said. 'Boxing is not the same no more.' The sport in the U.S. would no doubt get a boost from a more active Charlo — one who is serious about boosting America's standing in the fight game. The biggest question that remains, though, is while he appears back to his old self outside of the ring, it's unclear, after another 18 months away, whether Charlo can still be his old self inside of it.
Forbes
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Caleb Plant Vs. Armando Resendiz Fight Card, Date, Time & How To Watch
Caleb Plant Vs. Armando Resendiz On Saturday, former world champion Caleb 'Sweethands' Plant returns to the ring for the first time since September 2024 when he takes on Armando Resendiz in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions card at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. In the co-main event, the undefeated former champion Jermall Charlo returns after an 18-month absence from the ring to face Thomas LaManna. Here is a look at the entire card and the viewing information. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 14: Caleb Plant looks on before a super middleweight bout at T-Mobile ... More Arena on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) Plant is no longer a world champion, despite posing with the belt during the face-off with Resendiz at Thursday's press conference. He last held a world title when he fought Canelo Alvarez in November 2021. Plant lost his title that night via 11th-round TKO. It's the only time he's been stopped in his career. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Super middleweight boxer Caleb Plant poses on the scale during a ... More ceremonial weigh-in in Toshiba Plaza at T-Mobile Arena on September 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Plant is scheduled to fight Trevor McCumby for an interim WBA super middleweight title at the arena September 14. (Photo by) Plant is still just 32 years old, but answering the question of whether he's still a legit title contender is a bit tricky. Canelo is currently the undisputed champion at 168 pounds, and even with him aging, he'd likely be favored to beat Plant if they rematch. In addition to that, Plant is currently ranked in the top 10 at 168 pounds by any of the four governing bodies. Because of that, it's hard to see Plant challenging for a title soon. Then again, it's boxing. Manny Pacquiao is about to fight for a title on July 19—he's 46 years old and hasn't fought in nearly four years. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 30: Armando Resendiz of Mexico (red trunks) reacts after being ... More defeated by Elijah Garcia during the eighth round of their middleweight fight at T-Mobile Arena on September 30, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) Plant represents a significant step up in competition for Resendiz. The 26-year-old Mexican fighter has a 15-2 record with 11 KOs, and he's been stopped once. Resendiz was knocked out by Elijah Garcia in September 2023. He was given a get-right opponent in February when he stopped Fernando Paliza in the fifth round of a fight scheduled for six. Resendiz has punching power, but based on the way he's performed against higher-level fighters, I don't give him much of a chance to beat Plant. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 25: Jermall Charlo (L) fights Jose Benavidez Jr. during their ... More middleweight bout at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 25, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Charlo won by unanimous decision. (Photo by) Charlo hasn't fought since November 2023, when he scored a unanimous decision victory over Jose Benavidez. The former WBC middleweight champion had already been stripped of his title by then, as he battled some personal issues that impacted his activity. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 25: Jermall Charlo (R) fights Jose Benavidez Jr. during their ... More middleweight bout at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 25, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Charlo won by unanimous decision. (Photo by) It's now or never for Charlo. He is 35 years old and has already lost vital years of what would have been his prime. He is undefeated at 33-0 with 22 KOs, but it doesn't feel like it. Charlo should be considered one of the best fighters in his weight region, but he hasn't fought enough to claim that distinction. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 29: Thomas LaManna celebrates after defeating Nicolas Hernandez in ... More their middleweight fight at Prudential Center on December 29, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by) To put it plainly, LaManna has very little chance to beat Charlo—provided the former champion's skills haven't eroded. LaManna, 33, is 39-5-1 with 18 KOs, and he's been stopped three times in his career. LaManna was stopped in the first round by Erislandy Lara in 2021, but since then, he has won nine in a row. However, the combined record of the opponents he has faced on his win streak is 269-72-12. LaManna is more of a journeyman and someone PBC likely hopes Charlo can look good against. Plant and Charlo have history. Plant slapped Jermall Charlo on July 28, 2023, during a backstage altercation at the weigh-in for the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Plant was reportedly provoked by Charlo grabbing his face and responded with a left-hand slap. The confrontation was captured on video and widely circulated. Here's a look at the incident. If both win their fights on Saturday, PBC is expected to match the two men in a fight later in the year. It could be a great way to allow Plant and Charlo to capitalize monetarily on their beef. Also, the winner of that fight–especially if it is Charlo–could have an opportunity to challenge the winner of Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford. Be on the lookout for weigh-in information and coverage of the event on Saturday night.
