POUND-FOR-POUND legend Manny Pacquiao has confirmed that he will come out of retirement to face WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
The 46-year-old last entered a professional ring in 2021, back when he suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Yordenis Ugas and, in turn, lost his WBA strap.
Since then, the Filipino icon has focused largely on his political career while, at the same time, staging an exhibition with Rukiya Anpo, a Japanese kickboxer, last year.
During their non-competitive spectacle, Pacquiao, 62-8-2 (39 KOs), was made to look every bit of his age after getting clipped with a series of shots which, in his prime, he would have expertly evaded.
Nevertheless, the once ferocious southpaw was recently handed a fifth-place ranking by the WBC, allowing him to enter a controversial showdown with Barrios, 29-2-1 (18 KOs).
In what was already widely reported, it has now been officially announced that the pair will square off on July 19, headlining a Premier Boxing Champions card at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
Delivering the unsurprising news via social media earlier today, Pacquiao wrote on X: “I’m back. On July 19, I return to the ring to face WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Let’s make history!”
Barrios comprehensively outpointed Ugas for his WBC interim strap in 2023, before getting elevated to ‘full champion’ ahead of his clash with Abel Ramos.
During that encounter last November, the 30-year-old displayed much of his limitations, but equally, demonstrated a robust chin and solid fundamentals in what swiftly became a 12-round thriller.
In doing so, Barrios boxed to a draw – retaining his WBC title – while also earning a rather undesirable reputation as one of the weaker champions at 147lbs.
Yet still, many have expressed their concern over the safety risks attached to Pacquiao’s comeback, regardless of who is standing in the opposite corner.
