Manny Pacquiao Returns to the Ring: Set to Face Barrios in High-Stakes Title Fight
MANNY PACQUIAO – Proving age is just a number, Pacquiao prepares to reclaim glory as he takes on reigning champion Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight crown.
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is reportedly set to make a stunning return to the ring after a four-year hiatus, according to a report from ESPN. The 46-year-old Filipino icon is expected to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on July 19 in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, who last fought in August 2021, ended his career following a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas for the WBA welterweight title. Despite being inactive since then, the former eight-division world champion appears ready to lace up his gloves once more in pursuit of yet another historic title.
Sources close to the matter told ESPN that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has already given Pacquiao medical clearance to compete. The WBC’s regulations also allow former champions to petition for a title fight upon returning from retirement—a provision that seems to have been exercised in Pacquiao’s case.
The WBC’s president, Mauricio Sulaiman, hinted at the comeback during an event in Saudi Arabia, revealing that Pacquiao was preparing to face Barrios in July. This news comes just weeks before Pacquiao is scheduled to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, adding another dramatic twist to his storied career.
According to the report, Mario Barrios, Pacquiao’s potential opponent, boasts a professional record of 29 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, including 18 knockouts. He retained his title in November last year after a draw against Abel Ramos on the undercard of the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul event.
Pacquiao, with a career record of 62-8-2 and 39 knockouts, remains one of boxing’s most decorated and admired figures. In addition to his boxing legacy, he is actively involved in politics and is set to run in the upcoming Philippine Senate elections.
If confirmed, the bout would mark Pacquiao’s first step back into professional competition—and possibly, another historic chapter in his remarkable career.
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