Manny Pacquiao is back: Boxing legend unretiring for title fight

Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is coming out of retirement to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title in a highly anticipated showdown set for 19 July in Las Vegas.

The 46-year-old Filipino icon has been away from competitive boxing since August 2021, when he lost to Yordenis Ugas by unanimous decision.

That defeat saw him step away from the sport to focus on his political career, serving as a senator in the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 and now campaigning again for the upper house.

While Pacquiao has yet to formally announce his comeback—reportedly opting to wait until after the Philippine elections on 12 May—multiple confirmations from boxing officials and broadcasters suggest his return is a certainty.

The bout will air as a pay-per-view event through PBC on Prime Video.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed the match-up over the weekend during the Canelo Alvarez–William Scull fight in Saudi Arabia.

“Pacquiao wants to retire as WBC champion, so he’s fighting in the welterweight division,” Sulaiman told Boxing King Media, calling it a “tremendous fight.”

Pacquiao, a former eight-division world champion and global sporting icon, has already been cleared to fight by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Rumours of his comeback have swirled since late 2024, particularly after images surfaced of him training in Tokyo.

Barrios, who most recently appeared in a high-profile event on Netflix's Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson undercard in November 2024, will be a formidable opponent, but the return of Pacquiao is sure to command global attention.

In December, Pacquiao was named to the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 and is due to be inducted next month.

“Today, I am humbled knowing that in June, I will receive boxing’s highest honour,” he said at the time.

If successful in July, Pacquiao could cap off his legendary career by exiting the ring as a WBC world champion.