Manny Pacquiao plans to make a comeback to professional boxing in July 2024. The 46-year-old legend will face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title, aiming to retire as a champion.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman broke the news at Fatal Fury in New York City. Pacquiao's last pro fight happened in 2021 when he lost to Yordenis Ugas at 42. After that defeat, he officially announced his retirement from the sport.
Since then, Pacquiao hasn't been completely inactive in the ring. He recently took part in an exhibition match against Rukiya Anpo, which ended in a draw after three rounds.
The Filipino icon's return to boxing comes as a surprise to many. He's currently in the middle of a political campaign for the Philippine Senate. This campaign might explain why there hasn't been an official announcement from Pacquiao's team yet.
According to a report from Brunch Boxing, "nothing can or will be announced until Pacquiao's senate campaign ends."
The upcoming fight against Barrios holds special significance for Pacquiao. He started his remarkable career by winning his first title in the flyweight division with the WBC. Now, he wants to close the circle by retiring as a WBC champion.
Las Vegas will likely host the fight, with T-Mobile Arena as a possible venue. PBC, the promoter, has held six events in Vegas since the start of 2024, with four of them taking place at T-Mobile Arena.
The timing of the fight in late July makes sense considering the Philippine senate election is scheduled for May 12, 2025. This allows Pacquiao to focus on his political aspirations before shifting gears to boxing training.
Questions remain about Pacquiao's physical condition at 46 years old and how he'll manage to balance his boxing preparation with his ongoing political campaign. The boxing world waits with bated breath to see if the Filipino legend can cap off his storied career with one last hurrah in the ring.
