Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement for title shot

Published: Friday, May 9, 2025 at 5:30 pm

Pacquiao's Back! Boxing Legend Eyes Title Shot Against Barrios in July

Boxing fans, get ready! Legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao is coming out of retirement and stepping back into the ring. ESPN reported Thursday that the 46-year-old icon will face Mario Barrios on July 19th in Las Vegas. The fight will be for Barrios' WBC welterweight championship belt.

This marks Pacquiao's first fight since his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugas. The Filipino boxing superstar, known as "PacMan," boasts an impressive career record of 62-8-2 with 39 knockouts. He's an eight-division champion and is set to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June, solidifying his place among the sport's greats.

Pacquiao's return is particularly noteworthy given his recent focus on his political career in the Philippines. He's been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, paving the way for his comeback.

His opponent, Mario Barrios, is a formidable contender. Barrios, who turns 30 on May 18th, holds a record of 29-2-1 with 18 knockouts. This fight will be Barrios' third title defense since winning the belt in 2023. Barrios recently fought to a draw against Abel Ramos in November.

Pacquiao's career has been marked by incredible achievements, including winning his first major title, the WBC flyweight crown, at just 19 years old in 1998. His career has seen him face some of the biggest names in boxing, including a highly publicized 2015 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

This fight promises to be a must-watch event for boxing enthusiasts, as Pacquiao looks to add another chapter to his legendary career.

Keywords: Manny Pacquiao, boxing, Mario Barrios, welterweight, WBC, title fight, retirement, Las Vegas, ESPN, Hall of Fame, PacMan, boxing news, boxing comeback, boxing match, fight, Nevada State Athletic Commission, Yordenis Ugas, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

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