‘El Azteca’ Barrios will try to join the select list of Mexican-born boxers who have defeated Manny Pacquiao.
Who is Mario Barrios? Meet Manny Pacquiao’s opponent in his next fight | Record, stats, KOs…
Mario ‘El Azteca’ Barrios (29-2-1) will have the opportunity to fight one of the greatest boxers in history this Saturday when he steps into the ring to face Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2) in Las Vegas, Nevada. This card will feature other major fights, including Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz vs. Ángel Fierro and Sebastián Fundora vs. Tim Tszyu.
Barrios will defend his WBC welterweight title against Pacquiao. The San Antonio, Texas, native of Mexican origin retained the title after a draw with Abel Ramos in November of last year. The former Filipino senator will try to become the longest-reigning champion after a four-year hiatus since his last professional fight.
The toughest stretch of Barrios’ career occurred between 2021 and 2022, when he suffered his only two professional losses. His first defeat came via technical knockout of Gervonta Davis at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, where he lost the World Boxing Association super lightweight title, and his second came courtesy of Keith Thurman, via unanimous decision.
Since then, he has three wins and one draw. The victories came against Jovanie Santiago by TKO at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and against Yordenis Ugás and Fabián Maidana at the T-Mobile Arena in September 2023 and May 2024, respectively. The draw came against Abel Ramos, but it allowed him to retain his welterweight title.
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Pacquiao has only suffered eight defeats as a professional boxer, and only two of them came against Mexican boxers: Juan Manuel Márquez and Érik “El Terrible” Morales. Therefore, Barrios could become the third boxer of Mexican origin to defeat the Filipino.
Mario Barrios tells The Ring he’s ready for any "backlash" he would receive if he were to send Manny Pacquiao back into retirement after their fight on Saturday.
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) July 16, 2025
Pacquiao’s world title challenge vs Barrios will be his first professional fight since 2021. pic.twitter.com/CWzcI1TbIE
Mario ‘El Azteca’ Barrios’ Stats
- Name: Mario Thomas Barrios
- Nickname: El Azteca
- Born: San Antonio, Texas, United States
- Age: 30
- Record: 29-2-1
- Height: 6-foot-1
- Wingspan: 6 feet
- KOs: 18-1
- KO Percentage: 62.07%
- Rounds Contested: 198
- Last Bout: November 15, 2024. Draw with Abel Ramos via split decision (116-110, 113-113, and 112-114), and defended the WBC welterweight title.
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