Pacquiao – Barrios Card Features Fundora-Tszyu Rematch, Other Key Potential Undercard Title Fights For July 19th

The possible undercard for the Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios fight on July 19th in Las Vegas has been reported but not yet confirmed. Sebastian Fundora vs. Tim Tszyu 2 rematch is the confirmed co-feature fight on the card. The other fights are still speculative at this point, but are being talked about.

Potential Undercard Fights

• Sebastian Fundora vs. Tim Tszyu II – confirmed by ESPN. This is a rematch of their fight last year in March, which Fundora (21-1-1, 14 KOs) won by a 12-round split decision. The Fundora-Tszyu 2 rematch will be the main draw to attract fans to purchase the event on PPV. Their battle last year was a bloodbath with Tszyu suffering a cut early in the contest, and fighting nearly blind from the second round. The blood from his scalp cut leaked into his eyes in rivers, obscuring his vision.
  – Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Andy Hiraoka: WBA light welterweight champion Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) would be making his first defense of his belt against #1 ranked, unbeaten Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs). Russell captured the WBA title on March 1st, defeating Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela by a surprisingly wide 12-round unanimous decision. Hiraoka, 28, has beaten only one notable fighter during his long twelve-year career, stopping Ismael Barroso in the ninth round last year on September 3rd in Japan.
  – Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela vs. Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz 2: This is another speculative fight on the undercard. ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela (14-3, 9 KOs) dethroned the WBA 140-lb champion ‘Pitbull’ Cruz (27-3-1, 18 KOs) last year on August 3rd in Los Angeles, winning a 12-round split decision. “Rayo’ used a Lomachenko style to outbox Cruz in that fight.
  – Carlos Adames vs. Janibek Alimkhanuly: The fight between these two would be a middleweight unification. Adames (24-1-1, 18 KOs) holds the WBC title and is coming off a controversial draw against Hamzah Sheeraz. IBF and WBO champion Janibek (17-0, 12 KOs) is viewed by fans as the #1 fighter in the 160-lb division.

Interestingly, some of these fighters are more appealing than the Pacquiao-Barrios main event in terms of competitiveness. It doesn’t promise to be a great fight, bringing 46-year-old Pacquiao back after four years of inactivity to challenge for a world title. If you saw how Pacquiao dominated Rukiya Anpo, it was disturbing to watch. Pacquiao’s coming back now reeks of his returning for money only.