WBC – Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios: Stats, Fight Card & Predictions

The craze among boxing fans skyrocketed upon the arrival of the WBC welterweight championship. You cannot be more excited about a boxing match between a veteran and a young professional fighting for a welterweight title. The current WBC Welterweight Champion, Mario Barrios, and Pacquiao (Pacman) square off for the WBC welterweight title. Manny Pacquiao is a showman who brings excitement and fan-favorite elements to the sport. He is also a politician and businessman in the Philippines whose interest in sports extends across a wide range. In comparison, Mario Barrios is a young tactical boxer who knows what he does. They are complete opposites in fighting styles and have contradicting techniques. So, the following WBC welterweight bout promises to be a stylistic fight filled with drama, spark, and thrills. If you’re madly obsessed with boxing, Bettingpremier is your go-to spot for the latest WBC news and updates.

What is There for the WBC Fans

The following welterweight match is not an exhibition match. It is a fight for the WBC welterweight title. Hence, this fight holds significant importance, as there will be intense exchanges and heightened excitement. Calling Manny an athletic polymath is not enough for his achievements. His wide range of participation in various sports, primarily boxing, made him a vibrant sports icon. Additionally, the context of this fight adds more allure to this WBC event. As we saw, Mario Barrios is the current WBC welterweight champion as of July 18, 2025. He already had a previous welterweight retention fight with Abel Ramos and retained the title successfully. This time, the Pacman is poised to grab the title. So, Mario is obligated to defend his belt. Who will win? To know that, keep up with our exclusive sports predictions and analysis.

Manny Pacquiao’s Boxing Legacy

Early Life

Manny Pacquiao is the primary face of Filipino boxing. He represents spirit, resilience, and sportsmanship. From a young age, he has been interested in many things, including business, diplomacy, politics, philanthropy, and sports. Manny’s childhood had a strong foundation in ethics, morals, and religion. He was gifted with an above-average intelligence, which enabled him to excel in multiple fields. He also participated in basketball matches and chess occasionally. His boxing career started at a very young age, when he participated in professional boxing at 16 in 1995. He won by unanimous decision in his debut match. In 1999, he earned his first major title in the WBC’s Flyweight division. That event marked one of the significant milestones in his career. Ever since, Manny has continued to fight in professional boxing bouts. Get more boxing news and information like this from Bettingpremier.

Boxing Career

Manny Pacquiao has impacted the boxing world in many ways. He’s reached standout milestones in his boxing journey. Manny became the first boxer to compete in eight different weight categories. He participated in various weight divisions, ranging from flyweight to super welterweight. This remarkable achievement solidified his legacy as a versatile boxer capable of transcending across divisions. Over the years, he has achieved titles from major boxing sanctions such as WBO, WBA, WBC, and IBF. He received the Fighter of the Year award multiple times, highlighting his importance in boxing. Notably, he got the Fighter of the Decade for the 2000s from the Boxing Writers Association of America. He continuously sets records in pay-per-view sales, particularly his famous bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Manny Pacquiao’s journey in boxing illustrates perseverance, skill, and heart, making him a celebrated figure in the boxing community.

Mario Barrios’ Career Inside the Ring

Rise to Prominence

Mario Barrios is a pro boxer with American-Mexican roots. He became a professional boxer in 2013 in a regular version of the WBA’s super lightweight division. He scored a strong second-round knockout in his debut. Barrios delivered a single body shot that knocked his opponent and earned a stoppage. He continued winning in multiple divisions, increasing his visibility among the top boxing sanctions. In 2019, he contested with Batyr Akhmedov for the  WBC super lightweight title (Regular), defeating Batyr Akhmedov. That was the turning point for Barrios. It proved that Barrios can fight premier-class boxing bouts with established fighters. Again, Barrios fought to defend his title against Ryan Karl in 2020. Barrios successfully defended his title with a technical knockout in the 6^th round. Barrios’ entry to welterweight was pivotal, as he sought new challenges and opportunities to prove his worth on the next big stage.

Current Championship Reign

In 2023, Barrios became the WBC Interim welterweight champion after an outstanding fight with Yordenis Ugás, the former champion. This fight, which took place on a high-profile pay-per-view card, saw Barrios exceed expectations. He floored Ugás twice and won by unanimous decision, 118-107 twice. This unexpected success levelled up his career as a professional boxer. It made him a serious boxer in the welterweight division, where competition is fierce and the stakes are high. Following this remarkable achievement, Barrios made headlines again when he got the full champion status in the welterweight division in June 2024. Since his championship status, he has defended his title multiple times against big contenders. Some notable bouts were against Fabian Maidana, where he retained the title by UD. Currently, Barrios is focused on sustaining his championship status. And he is completely poised to secure the title.

Pacquiao vs Barrios – Fight Details

Main Event: Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios

Date: July 19, 2025.

Time: 08:00 p.m. ET / 05:00 p.m. PT / 02:30 a.m. IST (Next Day)

Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Where to Watch the WBC’s Pacquiao vs Barrios Fight?

The WBC welterweight championship fight is scheduled for July 19, 2025. The ring walk and fight will be broadcast on DAZN in the US, UK, Canada, and India. Don’t miss the fight night.

Pacquiao vs Barrios fight card

Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios (WBC welterweight title)

Sebastian Fundora vs Tim Tszyu (WBC super welterweight title)

Isaac Cruz vs Angel Fierro (Super lightweight)

Brandon Figueroa vs Joet Gonzalez (Featherweight)

Gary Russell Jr vs Hugo Castaneda (Super featherweight)

Manny Pacquiao Stats and Bio

Nationality: Filipino

Age: 46

Height: 5’5.5″

Reach: 67″

Stance: Orthodox

Total Fights: 72

Record: 62-39-8 (39 KOs)

Mario Barrios Stats and Bio

Nationality: Mexican-American

Age: 30

Height: 6’0″

Reach: 70″

Stance: Orthodox

Total Fights: 32

Record: 29-2-1 (18 KOs)

A Glimpse Ahead to Pacquiao vs Barrios

Manny Pacquiao’s Past Performances

Manny’s most recent fight was a loss. His last fight was in 2021; he hasn’t fought for nearly four years. Manny lost in UD despite his excellent performance in the previous match against Ugas in August 2021. He tried to land punches but rarely landed any. In that match, his footwork was less intense; later, he reported that his legs felt tighter. Before that match, he fought Keith Thurman and won by split decision. Pacquiao also had exhibition matches. Even though they were not professional fights, they kept him in the form until the last game. Now Manny is making a comeback to professional boxing. He seeks a world title against Mario Barrios; his performance against Mario is yet to be seen.

Manny Pacquiao’s Boxing Style

Manny Pacquiao’s fighting style combines aggressive offense with incredible speed. He is a southpaw boxer who leads with his right foot and hand, a key part of his strategy. Manny utilises his lateral footwork to enter angles and quickly throws his combinations. He also has an above-average hand speed involving shifts and angle changes. He often uses his speed against the opponents to make them stumble and confused. Manny integrates a relentless offense in his defensive approach. It enables Manny to throw punches at high speed with a higher volume, giving no time for his opponents to react. He also uses subtle head movement and forearm positioning. Pacquiao’s strategy centers on swarming foes with relentless speed and output. He is also known for his remarkable stamina, which helps him maintain a high pace throughout a fight. Manny’s ability to attack from unexpected angles is a challenge for opponents.

Mario Barrios’ Past Performances

Mario Barrios is an active welterweight contender. His professional record stands at 29 wins against two losses, with one draw. He has gone up against many formidable opponents in his career. A notable win was against Yordenis Ugás in September 2023. After 12 hard-fought rounds, Barrios outpointed Ugás by unanimous decision. He also earned the Interim WBC Welterweight Title in that bout. Barrios went on to retain his interim title with solid wins. He won a 12-round unanimous decision against Fabian Maidana in May 2024. Maidana showed resilience, rising to continue, but Barrios outworked Maidana throughout the fight. Mario’s right eye became swollen during the Maidana fight. This hampered his vision for part of the match.

Mario Barrios’ Boxing Style

In contrast to Manny’s boxing style, Mario Barrios utilises a calculated and tactical fighting style. One of his key strengths is his reach, where he uses his jabs to maintain distance. Additionally, he has a long frame for a welterweight division match. Standing close to six feet, he carries a 71-inch wingspan. That reach lets him dictate distance during fights. Mario applies disciplined pressure on his opponents, often aiming for the body. This technique drains stamina from his opponents effectively throughout the rounds. He is also considered an aggressive fighter, adapting his fighting style depending on his opponents. Barrios demonstrated his counter-punching ability in a recent match against Ugás, where he aimed to exploit openings with counters. His style focuses on controlling the pace and rhythm of the fight. To sum up, Mario Barrios’ youth and tactical precision suggest he is in his prime.

Prediction

Showmanship boxer Manny Pacquiao, aka Pacman, will fight rising American star Mario Barrios for the WBC Welterweight title. This legendary WBC bout takes place on July 19, 2025, at 08:00 p.m. EST at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Prepare for the fight-night weekend.

Initial Rounds

Both Mario Barrios and Manny Pacquiao enter the ring with contrasting fighting styles. Mario Barros is a wide-range orthodox boxer who will try to establish control with his 70-inch reach and strong jabs. He will use his height advantage and attempt to keep Manny at bay. He will also implement his lateral footwork to restrict Manny’s darting attacks. During the opening rounds, Manny might take initiative using his hand speed and ability to punch at angles. This may trouble Barrios if he slowly adjusts to Manny’s rhythm. We can expect Pacquiao to throw quick combinations and then pivot out. He might also try to catch Barrios off-balance. Manny Pacquiao’s left hand down the pipe could land during these exchanges. However, after the initial rounds, the power dynamics may shift. Barrios’ tactical and pressure fighting style will begin to assert control.

Final Rounds

Barrios will disturb Manny’s movement by landing uppercuts and crisp hooks. His ability to adapt and modify his style will allow him to absorb the early aggression and swap the power dynamics. He will control the tempo after the 4^th round. Especially, he will cut off Manny in the ring and force him into exchanges in the corners. Manny may have bursts of explosive power in the final rounds (9-12), but his pace will slow down given his age. On the contrary, Barrios’ youth and consistent output will wear down Manny. Barrios will target the body to terminate Manny’s footwork and stamina. He will keep him proactive and will neutralize counters. In the end, he will finish with clean combinations. Barrios’ technical proficiency, volume, and execution will outperform Manny’s. Ultimately, Manny’s durability will prevent a stoppage, but Barrios’ technical execution gives him the edge.

The Pick: Mario Barrios via UD.