There will always be obstacles and challenges that stand in your way. Building mental strength will help you develop resilience to those potential hazards so you can continue on your journey to success.
— American psychotherapist Amy Morin

MAYPAJO, Caloocan City — After retain his World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight crown against our very own Emmanuel 'Manny' Pacquiao, the indefatigable Mario 'El Azteca' Barrios has admitted that even at 46, the People's Champ is still a force to reckon with in the boxing ring.
In an interview, the American champion compared the power of Pacquiao and fellow American fighter and World Boxing Association lightweight title-holder Gervonta 'Tank' Davis: “I realized In the first round, Pacquiao could definitely crack, you know, ‘Tank’ can definitely crack, you know, it’s one of the few fights where I’ve touched the canvas. But yeah that old man is strong.”
Barrios faced the 26-year-old Davis when he campaigned at super-lightweight back in 2021 and despite his best efforts, ‘El Azteca’ was stopped in the penultimate round of his clash with the Tank to surrender his WBA Regular 140-pound title.
And last July 19, the San Antonio-born Barrios successfully retained his WBC title against 'The Pac-Man', although the 12-round clash at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas ended in a majority decision draw with two out of the three judges scoring the bout 114-114 even.
Rumours have been circulating of a potential rematch between Barrios and Pacquiao since their draw, but it remains to be seen whether the Champion and the Legend will do battle once again on the squared ring.
Meanwhile, any possible match for Davis has been placed on hold after he was arrested on a domestic charge earlier this summer. The unbeaten 30-year-old from Baltimore had been pencilled in to face the WBA's super featherweight king Lamont 'The Reaper' Roach Jr. in a rematch to be scheduled next.
As for Pacquiao, no news has come out from his camp regarding future matches although the 46-year-old from Sarangani has been receiving offers for a fight against a couple of boxers. Apparently, despite his age, the eight world division champ is a ‘hot’ challenge for most fighters—and this is not for money or victory.
Like what we've said previously, for any of the challenges to materialize, it would be decided certainly by our boxing icon and for us to see them happen, it would mean a distinct honor and privilege to see our People’s Champion proving himself as one of the world’s best—if not the greatest for his time.
Still, it’s not really about the prize money nor fame, title or fortune, what we are eager to witness is Manny Pacquiao proving he can triumph over ‘Old Man Time’ because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether Pacquiao wins or loses. The important thing is watching him do what he loves most to do—to box and fight in the arena amidst the delirious chant and shouts of his fans and supporters.

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