At an age when most boxers are content with commentary gigs and Hall of Fame speeches, Manny Pacquiao is lacing up his gloves once again.
Yes, you read that right. The 46-year-old boxing legend is making an audacious return to the ring, aiming to reclaim the WBC welterweight title on July 19, 2025, in a blockbuster bout against reigning champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, who retired in 2021 after a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugás, took to social media to confirm the shocking news, declaring: “I’m back. Let’s make history!”
But this isn’t just about nostalgia or unfinished business. It’s a bold bid to become the oldest welterweight champion in history—surpassing even his own record set at age 40 when he defeated Keith Thurman.
Standing in his way is 30-year-old Mario Barrios, a powerful and dangerous fighter with 29 wins (18 KOs) and just two losses.
Barrios rose to championship status after defeating Ugás in 2023 and was later elevated to full WBC champion when Terence Crawford vacated the title.
While fans are hyped, the return hasn’t come without skepticism. Critics point to Pacquiao’s age and the wear-and-tear of over two decades in the ring. #Some even reference a post-fight video from 2021 where he was seen being fed by his wife, hinting at the toll boxing has taken on him.
Still, Pacquiao seems unfazed. This is the same man who defied critics his entire career—from rising out of poverty in the Philippines to becoming boxing’s only eight-division world champion. Now, he wants to defy Father Time too.
