Back on February 25, 2021, UFC veteran Tony Ferguson, then 37, made headlines when he began training with the legendary Freddie Roach at the famed Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. After suffering back-to-back losses to Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira in 2020, Ferguson knew it was time to shake things up. ‘El Cucuy’ remained adamant that he had more to give. And who better to guide that comeback than Roach, the same trainer who’s worked with MMA icons like Anderson Silva, B.J. Penn, and Georges St-Pierre. Unfortunately for Ferguson, while the partnership looked promising on paper, the results inside the Octagon told a different story. Six fights, six losses, and a harsh reminder that reinvention doesn’t always come with redemption.
Fast forward to now, and Roach is once again in the spotlight, this time in the corner of his most iconic pupil, Manny Pacquiao. Returning to the ring after four years is no easy feat, especially when it’s for the WBC World Welterweight title. Add a 16-year age gap into the mix, along with notable physical disadvantages, and the challenge facing Manny Pacquiao becomes even more daunting. Standing at 183 cm with a reach of 180 cm, Mario Barrios towers over the 166 cm Pacquiao, whose 170 cm reach also comes up short. But then again, what mountain hasn’t Pacquiao climbed? He’s the sport’s only eight-division world champion, after all. So when a clip of his latest training session with longtime coach Freddie Roach surfaced online, it caught the attention of none other than Tony Ferguson.
“Legends reunited Manny Pacquiao is back with longtime trainer Freddie Roach for their 38th fight together .” Ring Magazine posted on Instagram earlier today. The six-slide carousel featured clips of Pacquiao—sporting a blue T-shirt and black pants—trading punches with the 65-year-old Roach. One moment stood out: Roach clipped the 62-8 legend with a sharp left, but Pacquiao’s slick footwork and rapid-fire counters looked straight out of his prime. At 46, his hand speed still crackles with the kind of energy that defined an era. And among the many comments, UFC veteran Tony Ferguson summed it up best: “Do work coach @freddieroach & @mannypacquiao .”
Pacquiao will return to the ring on July 19 in Las Vegas to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title, his first championship bout in six years. “It’s a tough road for anyone at this age to do what Manny is trying to do.” Roach admitted. “But if anyone can do it, Manny can.” The two have been an inseparable force since 2001, and the bond looks as sharp as ever. In a recent interview, Roach’s confidence was on full display. Praising Manny Pacquiao’s improved power and movement, he confidently declared that Mario Barrios is in for a lesson. “We’ll take him to school in this one.” Roach said.
Of course, it’s natural for fans to worry about whether Pacquiao might take unnecessary damage, especially given the criticism surrounding Mike Tyson’s November bout with Jake Paul. But while concern is valid, not everyone sees it through a negative lens. Just like Tony Ferguson, many fans view Pacquiao’s return as a testament to his fighting spirit, not a cause for alarm.
Manny Pacquiao needs to pack the punches
“Can tell they’re both happy to be training together. Love to see it! ” wrote one user, capturing the mood perfectly as Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach shared smiles and exchanged jabs during their sparring session. And why wouldn’t they be? This reunion has been a long time coming. It was back in 2018 when Manny Pacquiao publicly announced (without direct communication) that he’d parted ways with Roach, revealing the split in the closing line of a press release ahead of his bout with Lucas Matthysse, and went on to train with trainers like Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez and Raides “Nonoy” Neri instead.
Fast forward to today, and the bond between Pacquiao and Roach looks as strong as ever—something Oscar Valdez Fierro acknowledged with a simple “.” But, as always, not everyone’s sold on the comeback. “Pac-Man don’t got it like he use to, you can see it!!” the user wrote. Fair point, considering Pacquiao is 46 now. However this was just a light sparring session, clearly not meant to showcase his full potential. Judging his readiness based solely on training footage might be premature.
Another viewer chimed in with skepticism. “Nah if Roach can catch Pac clean like that then Barrios got this.” The remark references Roach’s impressive coaching resume, which includes names like Miguel Cotto, Julio César Chávez Jr., and James Toney. Yet another fan responded to the doubters with quiet optimism, saying simply, “Slow but sure.”
Still, concerns remain. One comment stood out, “This isn’t going to end well.” The worry is not unfounded. The Kibawe native’s last outing in 2021 ended in a loss to Yordenis Ugas. Meanwhile, Mario Barrios also suffered defeats to Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman, but showed resilience by bouncing back in 2023. Although his most recent bout ended in a draw, he’s still viewed as a potential threat, especially if he’s aiming to make a statement by upsetting a legend like Manny Pacquiao.
Then came a voice of bold confidence. “He’s gone beat the snot out of Barrios.” It echoes the belief that all it takes is the right matchup to bring out the best in a seasoned fighter. Just like David Benavidez warned Terence Crawford that fighting a livewire like Canelo could spark something unexpected, the same logic could apply here. If Pacquiao can tap into even a flicker of his prime form, the same form that saw him obliterate elite opponents in back-to-back knockouts for three years, Barrios could be in trouble.
With just two months left until fight night, anticipation is only growing. If Pacquiao pulls it off, he will add another golden chapter to his illustrious career. But if Barrios finds a way to win, he will cement his place as a serious force in the welterweight division. The stakes are high, the stage is set. And now, all that’s left is to see who rises to the occasion.
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