Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has announced his return from retirement to challenge WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
The 46-year-old last entered a professional ring in 2021, a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas, which cost him his WBA title.
Since retiring, the Filipino legend has concentrated on his political career, though he did have an exhibition boxing match against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo last year.
In that non-competitive event, Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) appeared to show his age, taking hits that he would have likely avoided in his prime.
Despite this, the southpaw great recently received a fifth-place ranking from the WBC, paving the way for a potentially controversial bout against Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs).
It has now been officially confirmed that the fight, which was widely anticipated, will take place on July 19th, headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao himself announced the news on social media platform X, stating: “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 earned his WBC interim title by defeating Ugas in 2023 and was later elevated to full champion before his fight with Abel Ramos.
In his November bout, the 29-year-old showed some weaknesses but also proved his toughness and fundamental skills in a tough 12-round contest.
That fight ended in a draw, allowing him to retain his WBC title, though some observers regard him as one of the less dominant champions in the welterweight division (147lbs).
Despite the opponent, many concerns have been raised about the potential safety risks involved in Pacquiao`s return to the ring.
