Manny Pacquiao’s four-year hiatus is over. The eight-division icon, freshly ranked No. 5 by the WBC, will challenge welterweight title-holder Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, topping a PBC on Prime Video PPV that also features a unified 154-lb rematch between Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu. TGB Promotions have the MGM Grand Garden Arena on standby, with nearby T-Mobile Arena blocked by Lady Gaga tour dates the same weekend.
Pacquiao hasn’t boxed since losing the WBA belt to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021, but WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán invoked the body’s rule allowing former champions to return directly into title fights. “That’s a tremendous fight,” Sulaimán said after clearing Pacquiao with the Nevada commission. Critics have howled at the fast-track, yet the Hall-of-Famer insists he can still compete at the sport’s elite edge.
Barrios earned the WBC strap after outpointing Ugas and was elevated to full champion when Terence Crawford moved to 154. The rangy Texan has dropped only to Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman, and believes a win over Pacquiao would cement his legitimacy: “Fighting a legend adds a chapter nobody can erase.”
Watch Ugas vs. Barrios highlights: Watch
In the co-feature, Sebastian “Towering Inferno” Fundora runs it back with Australia’s Tim Tszyu for the WBC super-welterweight crown he pried away from the blood-soaked Sydneysider by split decision four months ago. Fundora insists this is simply “Round 13,” but Tszyu swears it is a brand-new fight—one in which he plans to swap last March’s crimson haze for clear vision and redemption.
Earlier in the night Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (27-3-1, 18 KOs) defends Mexican pride against compatriot Angel Fierro (23-3-2, 18 KOs) after out-working him in February. Fierro, who blamed late-notice preparation for that unanimous defeat, has booked a full camp and says Cruz will meet a completely different brawler when the bell rings.
Watch Cruz vs. Fierro highlights: Watch
The action-heavy theme continues with two-division champion Brandon Figueroa (25-2-1, 19 KOs) colliding with Joet Gonzalez (27-4, 15 KOs). Figueroa, coming off a disappointing points loss to Stephen Fulton, vows to restore his swarming reputation; Gonzalez is chasing a second straight win to re-enter featherweight title contention after falling short against Luis Alberto Lopez last year.
Fight card:
▪️Mario Barrios vs. Manny Pacquiao, 12 rounds, for Barrios’ WBC welterweight title
▪️Sebastian Fundora vs. Tim Tszyu, 12 rounds, for Fundora’s WBC super welterweight title
▪️Isaac Cruz vs. Angel Fierro, 10 rounds, super lightweight
▪️Brandon Figueroa vs. Joet Gonzalez, 10 rounds, featherweight
