Manny Pacquiao plans to step back into the ring for a professional bout in less than two months. The 46-year-old boxing legend will challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC world welterweight title on Saturday, July 19, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao retired in the summer of 2021 after losing to Yordenis Ugas, the former WBA welterweight champion. Since then, he's kept busy with unscored exhibition matches against DK Yoo in 2022 and Rukiya Yoo earlier this year.
The Filipino icon's return to professional boxing has caught the attention of current champions. Terence Crawford, speaking to Sporting News Australia, shared his thoughts on the matchup:
"Mario Barrios is a great match-up for Manny Pacquiao, and I think at this age it's a 50-50 fight for Manny Pacquiao."
Pacquiao already holds the record for the oldest world welterweight champion. He grabbed the WBA welterweight crown from Keith Thurman in 2019 at the age of 40. Now, he aims to extend that record by six years.
For this comeback, Pacquiao has reunited with his long-time trainer Freddie Roach. The pair worked together for 16 years and 34 fights before parting ways in 2018. Their reunion adds an interesting dimension to Pacquiao's preparation for the bout.
While Pacquiao gears up for his return, Crawford, the 37-year-old from Omaha, is preparing for his own historic fight. He's set to face Canelo Alvarez in September, aiming to become the first male boxer to win undisputed world championships in three weight classes.
The boxing world waits with bated breath to see if Pacquiao can turn back the clock one more time and create another piece of history in the sport he's dominated for so long.
