Pacquiao on age gap: Don’t worry

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao set foot in Los Angeles Sunday evening and wasted no time, hitting the road and the gym in the morning to reunite with his good old trainer in preparation for his ring return in July.

Pacquiao hasn’t fought a real fight since 2021 when he lost to Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas and then announced his retirement to focus on his political career.

This time, after missing a Senate seat in the recent elections, the 46-year-old global icon wants another shot at glory, against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios of Mexico.

Pacquiao visited the Wild Card Gym, his home when training in the United States, and hooked up with the 65-year-old Freddie Roach. They turned the lights back on for what may be described as boxing’s most successful tandem.

A light workout kicked off Pacquiao’s training against Barrios, 30, who was born 116 days after the Filipino, then a skinny, desperate 16-year-old, made his pro debut in January of 1994 against Enting Ignacio in Sablayan in Oriental Mindoro.

At the Los Angeles International Airport, ES News reminded Pacquiao of the wide age gap between him and the taller and hungier but not necessarily wiser and stronger Mexican.

“Don’t worry about it,” Pacquiao (62-8-2 with 39 knockouts) replied as he broke into a wide smile, accompanied by his wife, Jinkee, and his entourage led by trainer Buboy Fernandez.

Roach may think otherwise.

“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,” he told Ring Magazine.

Together, they won world titles from one weight class to another, and became part of the greatest moments in the sport, including blockbuster fights against Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao really has nothing more to prove – except that he can turn back the hands of time.

Barrios is 29-2-1 with 18 knockouts but has a history of being knocked down – and out.

Since retiring from competitive boxing, Pacquiao figured in two exhibition bouts, one against a Korean vlogger and another against a Japanese kickboxer.

Barrios, three or four inches taller than Pacquiao, is neither a vlogger nor a kickboxer but a world champion.

Pacquiao, who will soon be enshrined in the Boxing Hall of Fame, is out to stun the world and emulate what the late heavyweight George Foreman did in 1994 – win a world title at 45.

“We’ll see,” said Pacquiao.

Indeed, that remains to be seen.