At 46 years old, Manny Pacquiao isn’t ready to hang up the gloves just yet. The boxing legend is making a return to the ring after a four-year layoff, set to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Despite being away from professional boxing since 2021, Pacquiao believes he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. “I think I have two or three more fights left,” he said. “I feel strong, I feel fast. I’ve rested, and now I’m back.”
His last fight was a decision loss to Yordenis Ugas, a performance Pacquiao believes was hampered by distractions outside the ring. Since then, he’s attempted a return to politics in the Philippines, but after an unsuccessful Senate run earlier this year, his focus has shifted fully back to boxing.
Now training full-time, Pacquiao is aiming to make history once again. A win over Barrios would not only hand him another world title, but also break his own record as the oldest welterweight champion in history. “This fight is very important to me because it’s history,” he said. “I believe I’d be the first Hall of Famer to win another world title while already in the Hall. That’s something special.”
The WBC’s decision to grant Pacquiao a direct title shot has stirred debate, but the Filipino icon remains unfazed. “When I retired in 2021, it wasn’t on my terms. I knew I still had more to give,” he said. “Now I’m training hard, but smarter. My team actually has to slow me down. I still push myself, but I also know the value of recovery at this point in my career.”
Barrios, a rising contender with youth on his side, presents a tough challenge. But Pacquiao believes experience and conditioning will be key. “There are no distractions this time. I’m 100 percent focused.”
Should Pacquiao win, British fighter Conor Benn has been named as a potential challenger for the belt next. For now, though, all eyes are on July 19.
“I’m taking it one fight at a time,” Pacquiao said. “But I still believe I can compete with the best. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t believe that.”
Whether it’s one last ride or the beginning of a new chapter, Pacquiao is once again stepping into the spotlight—gloves on, legacy in hand.
