Manny Pacquiao plans to return to the ring at 46 years old. The eight-division world champion will face WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19 at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao retired in 2021 after a loss to Yordenis Ugas. He shifted his focus to his political career in the Philippines. Last month, he announced his comeback, which raised eyebrows in the boxing world.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) initially ranked Pacquiao fifth in their welterweight rankings. This move confused many fans and media members, as Pacquiao hadn't fought professionally since 2021.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman addressed the issue in an interview with Fight Hub TV. He admitted they made a mistake in ranking Pacquiao so high without recent fights.
"We made a mistake in ranking him number five, and that caused confusion among the media and fans, obviously saying, 'Why is he ranked if he hasn't fought?' What happened is that permission was granted, the fight was authorised, and we'll talk again on July 20 to see how it went."
Sulaiman explained that WBC rules allow legendary boxers to compete for titles if they get a license and pass medical exams. He said they plan to remove Pacquiao from the rankings but will still allow the fight based on these rules.
"The World Boxing Council regulations allow legendary boxers who receive a license from a boxing commission and who pass all their exams to compete for the title."
Pacquiao's last professional win came in 2019 against Keith Thurman. At 40, he became the oldest world welterweight champion. Since retiring, he's had two exhibition fights against DK Yoo in 2022 and Rukiya Anpo earlier this year.
If Pacquiao beats Barrios, he could become the oldest world welterweight champion in boxing history. The fight on July 19 will show if the Filipino legend still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
