New Delhi: Legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao will come out of retirement nearly four years after he hung up his gloves and announced his return to the ring on Wednesday at the age of 46.
The Filipino is set to take on WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in a bout in Las Vegas on July 19 and will aim to be the oldest world champion in the 63.5-66.7 kg weight category.
“I’m back, Let’s make history,” Pacquiao said on social media platform X.
“On July 19, I return to the ring to face WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Let’s make history!”
Pacquiao remains the only boxer to win world championships in a record eight weight categories. He defeated Keith Thurman in 2019 to become the oldest WBA (Super) welterweight champion in history at the age of 40.
In his 26-year forst stint, Pacquiao won 12 world titles in eight different weight categories, including flyweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight.
He had been a Filipino senator from 2016 to 2022 and retired in 2021, after which unsuccessfully ran for president in 2022. Earlier this year, he ran for the Senate and lost.
The left hander won 62 of his 72 bouts, suffering eight losses and drawing twice, to be elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2025.
The WBC reinstated Pacquiao at No. 5 in its welterweight rankings last week, in a move that drew strong criticism, making him a challenger to Barrios’ title.
“Pacquiao has been licensed by Nevada and passed all medicals and as legendary WBC champion has been approved to fight by our organisation,” the WBC president Mauricio Suliman said, as quoted by the BBC.
In his last bout before retirement, Pacquiao had lost to Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas and faces an opponent who has 29 wins in 32 bouts, 18 of them by knockout and only two losses.
Barrios, 30, has held the welterweight title since 2024.
Pacquiao’s son, Emmanuel Pacquiao Jr, is also set make his professional debut on the undercard, against a yet to be named opponent.