Last year, whispers circulated about a potential return to the ring for legendary Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, then aiming to conclude his storied career with one final world title victory.
However, an exhibition bout against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in July appeared to expose vulnerabilities in the now 46-year-old icon, seemingly putting an end to talks of a professional comeback. Despite this, reports now suggest that boxing’s only eight-division world champion is once again engaged in negotiations for a world title contest.
Previously, “Pac-Man” was linked to a clash with reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios during the first half of 2024. A potential fight reportedly hinged on Pacquiao`s performance in the Anpo exhibition, which was intended to demonstrate his enduring ring prowess. Contrary to this goal, the exhibition had the opposite effect, causing concern among viewers who witnessed shots landed by Anpo and pondered the potential impact of a current elite boxer`s power.
Consequently, discussions surrounding a Barrios-Pacquiao fight quickly faded. Barrios instead defended his title against Abel Ramos in November on the Paul-Tyson undercard, retaining his prestigious green and gold WBC belt via a closely contested split draw.
Now, nearly a year after the initial reports, negotiations for the Barrios-Pacquiao fight are reportedly back underway, although sources indicate a deal is far from finalized. This development presents Pacquiao with the significant opportunity to surpass his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in history (a record he set at age 42). Furthermore, as the only four-time welterweight champion, he could extend this record by claiming a fifth title in the 147lb division, an achievement that would widely be considered a major upset against Barrios should the fight materialize.
