Bob Arum will always appreciate everything Manny Pacquiao accomplished for his promotional company.

The Top Rank founder's personal and professional respect for Pacquiao prohibited him from picking apart Pacquiao for returning to the ring at such an advanced age. That and the 93-year-old promoter is, after all, more than twice as old as the legendary Filipino fighter.

But just like virtually everyone else who cares about Pacquiao, Arum is nervous about the 46-year-old southpaw fighting again. Pacquiao returned to the Los Angeles area over the weekend to start training camp for his fight against WBC welterweight champ Mario Barrios on July 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

"I can't say anything negative because Manny meant so much to us and our company,” Arum told The Ring. "But it seems really questionable that, at his age, he would put himself at risk by going into the ring with a champion fighter. I mean, George Foreman wasn't even that age – he was younger when he beat Michael Moorer. And George had been active over the years prior to that fight with Moorer. Manny hasn't been active at all, really."

The late Foreman was 45 when, in November 1994, he became the oldest champion in boxing history by knocking out IBF/WBA heavyweight champ Michael Moorer in the 10th round of their title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Bernard Hopkins broke Foreman's mark in May 2011, when, at age 46, the former undisputed middleweight champion unanimously out-pointed Canada's Jean Pascal to win the WBC light heavyweight title at Bell Centre in Montreal.

Arum’s point about Pacquiao is still well taken.

Pacquiao hasn't won a fight in nearly six years, not since he edged then-unbeaten Keith Thurman by split decision in their WBA welterweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Focused on his political career in the Philippines, Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) hasn't competed in a sanctioned boxing match since August 2021, either.

Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas, a late replacement for an injured Errol Spence Jr., out-pointed Pacquiao unanimously in that bout almost four years ago at T-Mobile Arena.

San Antonio's Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) is 16 years younger than Pacquiao. He also opened as a 5-1 to favorite over Pacquiao, despite Barrios settling for a 12-round split draw with Abel Ramos (28-6-3, 22 KOs) in his last fight November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Arum hopes Pacquiao proves oddsmakers and a lot of other doubters wrong.

"He's an amazing person, Manny Pacquiao," Arum said. "And if anybody can do it, he can do it. But I'm really concerned about it, given his age and his inactivity. But again, I will certainly be rooting for him because he's really a great guy who has meant so much to us as a company."