Manny Pacquiao will step back into the ring on July 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The Filipino boxing legend plans to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title after nearly four years away from professional boxing.
At 46 years old, Pacquiao aims to become the oldest welterweight world champion. He last fought in 2019, beating WBA champion Keith Thurman at the age of 40.
Some fans worry about potential harm to Pacquiao, but he's brushed off these concerns. The former eight-division world champion told ESPN, "Not to worry. The old Manny Pacquiao will be back."
Pacquiao recently opened up about a past regret in his career. He told Business Insider:
"If I could change one thing in my career, I'd have asked to postpone my 2015 fight against Floyd Mayweather after hurting my shoulder in training."
The injury happened two weeks before the fight. Pacquiao thought it would heal without surgery, but it got worse after the third round. He now wishes he'd pushed to reschedule the bout.
The Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown had been in the works for almost a decade. While it broke commercial records, the in-ring action didn't live up to the hype. Mayweather won by unanimous decision, controlling most of the fight.
Now, Pacquiao looks to write a new chapter in his storied career. The July 19 bout against Barrios will show if the Filipino icon can still compete at the highest level of the sport.
