Tomorrow, the entire nation will be on the edge of its seat as Manny Pacquiao fights the younger, more aggressive Mario Barrios for the World Boxing Council (WBC) title.

While it’s a routine title defense for Barrios, for the 46-year-old Pacquiao it’s not. For him, it’s all about chasing a victory that would grow his legacy and give Father Time a wicked punch in the mouth.

For nearly three decades, Pacquiao has been a force of nature. An eight-division world champion, Pacquiao dazzled inside the ring with his furious southpaw attacks, lightning-quick footwork, and devil-may-care attitude perfectly tailored for prime time.

From a humble beginning, Pacquiao captured the hearts and minds of sports-loving Filipinos with countless accolades, including a lofty spot in the Boxing Hall of Fame. He has given his countrymen a reason to believe that poverty doesn’t stand a chance to the resilience and determination of the human spirit. He is not just a mere boxing icon, he is a symbol of hope.

But time — as the old adage goes — is undefeated. Even a legendary warrior like Pacquiao also fades. Eventually, the punches will grow slower, the knees will get wobbly, and the fire in the eyes of this once feared warrior will flicker.

No one has ever beaten Father Time — not the best boxers in history like Muhammad Ali, Bernard Hopkins, George Foreman, Mike Tyson.

But Pacquiao is stubborn. Despite a four-year hiatus that he used to dabble in politics, hold exhibition matches, and care for his family, he will be climbing the ring to face a true champion who was born the exact same year Manny started his professional career 16 years ago.

The 30-year-old Barrios looks indestructible. He is a physically imposing six-footer with a chiseled body highlighted by a jaw that looks like it is made of granite. His previous victory over Yordenis Ugas — the man who sent Pacquiao into retirement in August 2021 — sent the strong message that he is the rightful boxer to wear the welterweight strap.

So, the narrative is clear: youth versus experience, the current ninja versus the old shogun.

But to count Pacquiao out would be a grave mistake. The veteran fighter remains dangerous as he insists that winning is not about the $10-million paycheck or the popularity. It’s a bid to grow his legacy and essay a fitting ending to a boxing career that looks like a page torn from a fairy tale.

In short, he wants to walk into the sunset not as an aging, fallen warrior, but as a newly minted welterweight king still capable of sowing fear in the hearts of his opponents.

Professional boxing has seen a lot of fighters come out of retirement for one last hurrah. All of them had failed.

Now, it’s Pacquiao’s turn to do the unenviable and face a real champion like Barrios and send Father Time sprawling into the canvas. But unlike other returning fighters before him, Pacquiao is armed with the right mindset, the right motivation to emerge victorious in this battle dubbed as his final stand.

So, when the opening bell of this blockbuster spectacle rings in Manila on Sunday, expect Pacquiao to come out like an old, hungry lion roaring in a vast jungle. But it won’t be a desperate attempt to intimidate. It’s his way of turning back the hands of time for a victory that will prove that true legends don’t just simply fade away — they fight till the very end.

Whatever the result, the fact that Pacquiao is brave enough to climb into the ring against a fighter 16 years his junior is already a victory. It’s a courageous act that would further cement his legacy.