Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Boxing legend, Manny Pacquiao has announced his return to the ring at age 46, nearly four years after his last professional fight
The former eight-division world champion will face WBC
welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas.
“I’m back,”
Pacquiao wrote on social media. “Let’s make history.”
If he wins, Pacquiao will become the oldest welterweight
world champion in boxing history—a record he already holds after defeating
Keith Thurman in 2019 at age 40.
The World Boxing Council recently reinstated him into its
welterweight rankings at number five, sparking debate among fans and pundits.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman defended the move, saying
Pacquiao had been licensed by Nevada and passed all required medicals.
“Pacquiao
has been licensed by Nevada and passed all medicals. As a legendary WBC
champion, he has been approved to fight by our organisation,” Sulaiman said.
Pacquiao last fought in August 2021, when he lost to
Yordenis Ugas by unanimous decision. He retired shortly afterward with a
professional record of 62 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws, including four
welterweight titles.
Since retiring, he has remained active in politics in the
Philippines but recently failed in his bid to return to the country’s Senate.
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