Yordenis Ugas was the last person to fight Manny Pacquiao – and he believes the legend still poses a real threat to Mario Barrios.
Pacquiao astonishingly announced he will return to the ring this year at the age of 46 for the first time since losing to Ugas in 2021.
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He will take on the huge task of a world title shot against WBC welterweight champion Barrios on July 19.
Ugas has fought both fighters having been outpointed by the champion Barrios two years later in 2023.
And despite having got the better of one and not the other, the Cuban believes the jeopardy is higher than ever for Barrios.
He explained: “It could be a lose-lose situation. If he wins, people will say, ‘Pacquiao was old.’ If he loses, they’ll say, ‘You lost to an old man.’
“Barrios is taking a big risk. I fought Pacquiao when he was coming off a huge win.
“He had just beaten the top welterweight at the time in 2019. This time it’s harder.
“Pacquiao’s coming off a four-year layoff and a loss. We’ll see. It’ll be a good fight, though.”
Ugas was the last fighter to beat Pacquiao sending him into his initial retirement.
It saw him claim a world title, putting on a punch-perfect display where he completely neutralised Pacquiao.
But in truth, the Filipino icon looked a shadow of his former self and was unable to match his previous career levels of output.
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He then went on to focus on his political career but has always been lured back in by the possibility of breaking records and a new legacy.
Pacquiao did return in an exhibition with Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo last year, where he severely struggled.
‘Pac Man’ faced significant opposition to any further return, with the boxing fraternity keen for him to avoid any risk.
But he has indeed been inducted into the WBC rankings despite concerns.
And promoter Frank Warren believes it is a bad look for the sport.
“It’s not boxing doing it, it’s the governing body,” Warren told talkSPORT.
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“That rests with them, George Foreman came back and won the title at 50 years old.
“You come in and test the waters, going straight into a world title fight, I don’t understand that.
“For me it doesn’t sit well with me for the sport. I’ve got to be honest, I don’t agree with it.
“There was talk of Wladimir Klitschko, but these guys are well past their sell-by date, that is the truth.
“And the facts are it doesn’t do the business or the sport any good.”
