Manny Pacquiao will come out of retirement to fight Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship in Las Vegas, the 46-year-old confirmed on Wednesday.
Pacquiao is the only boxer to win world championships in a record eight weight classes and in 2019 became the oldest welterweight world champion in history at 40.
After a stint in politics, though, he is returning to the ring, announcing his comeback on Instagram, and could break his own record with a win.
He wrote: "I'm back. 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."
Barrios has 29 wins in 32 bouts, winning 18 by knockout and losing twice. The 30-year-old has held the welterweight title since 2024 and holds a significant age advantage over Pacquiao.
Pacquiao will return to Las Vegas for the first time since losing to Yordenis Ugas on points in his last bout before retirement. He has reentered WBC rankings at fifth ahead of the Barrios fight, marking him eligible to challenge for the Mexican-American’s title.
The southpaw, who has 62 wins in a 72-fight career, was also elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.
A Filipino senator from 2016 to 2022, Pacquiao had retired from boxing in 2021 and ran for president in 2022, narrowly losing. He made his return to politics this year as he unsuccessfully ran for Senate.
He has faced some criticism for the decision to return to the ring, though. His former promoter Bob Arum is among those who believe he is too old to be fighting for titles, saying he was ‘really concerned’ about the fight.
“If anybody can do it, he can do it. But I’m really concerned about it, given his age and his inactivity,” Arum told The Ring earlier this week.
But Pacquiao has played down the concerns, telling fans in Los Angeles: “Don’t worry about it.”
He also said that his son, Emmanuel Pacquiao Jr, will make his professional debut on the undercard, with his opponent yet to be confirmed.
Additional reporting: Reuters
