Manny Pacquiao, the 46-year-old Filipino boxing legend, will step back into the ring after a four-year break. The former champion returns to face WBC world welterweight title holder Mario Barrios on Saturday, July 19, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao's last professional fight ended in a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas in June 2021. He announced his retirement shortly after, but couldn't stay away from the sport for long. In the years since, he's kept active with exhibition matches against Rukiya Anpo in 2022 and DK Yoo in 2024.
The "PacMan" already holds the record for the oldest world welterweight champion. He set that mark in 2019 at age 40 when he defeated Keith Thurman for the WBA world welterweight title. Now, he's aiming to break his own record by becoming the oldest champion in the division's history.
Terence Crawford, a pound-for-pound star in his own right, believes Pacquiao will come out on top. In an interview with Boxing Social, Crawford shared his thoughts:
"I got him winning, I got him winning. I just think the experience, you know, the power, is gonna take him to a victory."
Barrios, known as "El Azteca," won't make it easy for the returning legend. The current WBC world welterweight champion will look to use his youth and recent activity to his advantage.
The fight promises to be a clash of generations, with Pacquiao's experience and power going up against Barrios' youth and hunger. Boxing fans around the world will tune in to see if the Filipino icon can turn back the clock one more time and add another incredible chapter to his storied career.
