Hearn Slams Pacquiao’s Title Fight: “Not World Level”

Like many fans, promoter Eddie Hearn is baffled by Manny Pacquiao’s decision to come out of a four-year retirement and given the green light by the sanctioning body to challenge Mario Barrios for his WBC welterweight title on July 19th.

(Credit: Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom)

Hearn isn’t happy about it because the 46-year-old Pacquiao is blocking his plans to set up a unification fight between IBF and WBA 147-lb champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Barrios. He points out that Pacquiao is “anywhere near the world level” after being inactive since 2021. It’s just an example of the direction the sport is taking.

Boxing Becoming WWE?

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou shouldn’t have been allowed to fight Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in his first and second fights of his pro career. It still was allowed to happen. Terence Crawford shouldn’t be permitted to jump up two weight classes to skip to the front of the line to challenge Canelo Alvarez for his undisputed super middleweight championship. You hate to say it, but boxing is morphing into WWE, where anything goes.

“All the champions are on Boots’ radar. I still think it’s bizarre. I still think it’s bizarre that Manny Pacquiao is fighting for a world title. Five years out of the ring, and not anywhere near the world level anymore. But that’s boxing, and it’s the business, and we understand it,” said Eddie Hearn to Fighthype, reacting to Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19th.

Barrios is vulnerable enough to lose to Pacquiao. If the Filipino star is anywhere near the level he was in 2019 when he defeated Keith Thurman, he will be too much for Barrios. The 29-year-old was elevated to full WBC 147-lb title outside of the ring.

Barrios didn’t win his belt the traditional way. He initially captured the WBC interim title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Yordenis Ugas, who was coming off a long layoff, eye injury, and a loss to Errol Spence.