Manny Pacquiao out to stun Mario Barrios in comeback fight

Manny Pacquiao climbed onto the stage amid the bright lights, blare and ovation, precisely receiving the same degree of adulation as if the only eight-division world champion in boxing never walked away from the sport.

- JUNE NAVARRO

The Filipino ring icon will again lace up his gloves on Sunday, July 19, (Manila time) four years after hanging them, chasing yet another milestone in bidding to dislodge World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Mario Barrios off his perch.

"The power and speed are still there. The fire in my eyes is still there. Now that I'm back, I'm really excited to fight and I'm hungry to win again," said Pacquiao during the weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, July 18.

The 46-year-old former senator from General Santos City looked razor sharp in training in his protracted grapple with Father Time, but standing on Pacquiao's way of becoming the only second oldest boxer to seize a world title after Bernard Hopkins is the 30-year-old Barrios.

Hopkins won a light heavyweight title in the twilight of his career at 49 years old.