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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider Pacquiao-Roach tandem hopes to rekindle old magic

Pacquiao-Roach tandem hopes to rekindle old magic

Published May 20, 2025 01:27 pm

At A Glance

  • Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has rekindled his legendary partnership with long-time coach and Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach for his comeback fight against World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Mario Barrios.

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has rekindled his legendary partnership with long-time coach and Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach for his comeback fight against World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Mario Barrios.

Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach along with Buboy Fernandez during the boxing great's return to the Wildcard Boxing Gym (Jhay Oh Otamias)
Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach along with Buboy Fernandez during the boxing great's return to the Wildcard Boxing Gym (Jhay Oh Otamias)

In a video uploaded in Team Pacquiao’s official Youtube account, Pacquiao was shown sweating it out on the mitts with Roach at the Wildcard Boxing Gym as he formally began his training camp for the fight set on July 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The dynamic duo’s partnership had a legendary run during their heydays, allowing Pacquiao to conquer the likes of Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar Dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Keith Thurman on his way to becoming the only eight-division world champion in the sport.

Such old magic is what both Pacquiao and Roach hoped to rediscover heading into the Barrios fight, which not a few perceived as a dangerous one for the already 46-year-old legend.

For one, Barrios is still at peak at only 30 years old, and holding a huge size advantage against the Filipino boxing great. 

Pacquiao, on the other hand, has been away from competitive boxing – his last fight was way back in 2021, a unanimous decision loss against Yordenis Ugas – although he was featured in some exhibition matches in the past years.

Asked about the concerns of him making the ring comeback at his age and against an opponent 16 years younger, Pacquiao simply shrugged it off and flashes his familiar carefree smile.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said.

In a report of Ring Magazine, Roach admitted that Pacquiao is facing an uphill climb against Barrios especially at his age but if there’s someone who could defy such odds, there’s no doubt in Roach that it could be Pacquiao.

“It's a tough road for anyone at this age to do what Manny is trying to do. But if anyone can do it, Manny can,” said Roach.

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