Manny Pacquiao will step back into the ring this Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The 46-year-old boxing legend plans to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC Welterweight World Championship.
Pacquiao hasn't fought since losing to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. After that defeat, he briefly retired to focus on his political career. Now, the eight-division world champion sees a chance to break his own boxing record and couldn't resist the lure of the ring.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Pacquiao shared his thoughts on the comeback:
"I'm so excited for this fight because I want to prove to the fans that Manny Pacquiao is still there. And it's nice to be back."
The Filipino fighter knows he's taking a risk by returning at his age. He expressed concern about his reputation but assured fans he's not coming back unprepared:
"I'm worried for my reputation. But I'm making sure that I'm not a kind of fighter like other fighters that come back but they are not showing what they did before."
Pacquiao's longtime coaching staff, including Freddie Roach, Buboy Fernandez, and Justin Fortune, have given him the green light. Their approval has boosted his confidence:
"I'm sure my coaching staff like Freddie [Roach], Buboy [Fernandez] and Justin [Fortune] will tell me frankly if I don't have that fire any more. But right now they're very happy with my passion. They're very happy with my training. They're very happy with my speed and power. The fire in my eyes, in my heart, is still there."
On the other side of the ring, 30-year-old Mario Barrios will defend his WBC Welterweight World Championship. Barrios won the interim title in May 2024 by defeating Fabian Maidana. He got upgraded to full champion when Terence Crawford moved up in weight.
Barrios fought to a draw in his last bout against Abel Ramos. He'll look to keep his belt against the legendary Pacquiao in what promises to be an action-packed fight.
