Pacquiao vs Father Time

Pacquiao vs Father Time | Daily Tribune

Three days from now, retired boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is set to fight Mexico’s Mario Barrios, 16 years his junior, for the WBC welterweight belt, in an attempt to turn back the hands of time and further cement his legacy.

Yes, the guy who once juggled world titles, Senate sessions, and karaoke hits like a multitasking ninja is lacing up his gloves once again to prove that age is just a number — albeit one that comes with joint pain, creaky knees, and the occasional Google search for “anti-inflammatory diet.”

Let’s be honest. Pacquiao has already secured his place in boxing’s pantheon. Eight-division world champion? Check. Knocked out more Mexicans than a Trump speech? Check, check. He’s the only man to win a belt in four different decades, and he’s got nothing left to prove — except, apparently, to Father Time, who remains undefeated, unranked, and annoyingly consistent.

But here comes Mario Barrios, a legit fighter with youth, reach, and two working knees on his side. Sixteen years younger, he represents the generation that grew up watching Pacquiao highlights on YouTube while eating Hot Cheetos. Now he’s trying to turn those highlights into his own reel by beating the legend himself. It’s poetic. Or tragic. Or both, depending on how many rounds it lasts and how many Alaxan FR (pronounced ‘if-ar’) Pacquiao would need after.

Of course, fans are excited. Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? Except this time, the underdog is the former alpha dog with lightning speed hands and power-packed fists.

Let’s not kid ourselves — this isn’t just about belts or legacy. This is about nostalgia. It’s about clinging to a time when the world made more sense, when Pacquiao’s left hand was just a blur and his only opponents were boxers, not retirement, real estate, and reelection. It’s also about proving that a 46-year-old dad with six kids and a Senate résumé can still throw hands with the best of them.

But here’s where things get dicey: what if it goes badly? What if Barrios lands one clean, fast, youth-fueled punch and Pacquiao’s body responds with, “Nope, we’re done here”? The ring is no place for sentimentality. It’s not like the judges will give you sympathy points for being a living legend. If anything, they’ll just call the stretcher faster.

Still, if there’s anyone who could do it, it’s Manny. He’s defied odds, gravity, and critics more times than we can count. Maybe, just maybe, he’s got one more miracle tucked away next to his rosary and liniment oil. Maybe he’s not fighting to win another belt but to show the world — and himself — that he still can. Maybe Father Time is due for a split decision loss.

And if not? Well, he goes out swinging, like the hero that he is to a nation hungry for someone to adore.

Either way, come fight night, we’ll be watching. Not just to see if Pacquiao wins, but to see if legends really do age like fine wine — or if they just bruise like overripe fruit.