Manny Pacquiao is coming home—to the ring, to the crowd’s roar, and to the place where his legend was forged.
At 46, with titles, trophies, and honors long behind him, Pacquiao has nothing left to prove. And yet, he’s stepping back between the ropes one more time.
“I’m back,” Pacquiao officially declared on his Facebook page, posting the fight poster.
“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!”
The 46-year-old Pacquiao last fought professionally in August 2021, losing via unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas. He briefly returned to action in July 2023 for an exhibition bout against kickboxer Rukiya Anpo, going the distance in an entertaining non-sanctioned match.
Now, nearly three years since his last official bout, the only eight-division world champion in boxing history is aiming to make history again—this time by becoming the oldest welterweight world champion, surpassing the record he set in 2019 when he beat Keith Thurman at age 40.
Pacquiao is already back in training at the famed Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, under the guidance of his longtime trainer Freddie Roach. Also present in camp is Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao’s close friend and trusted co-trainer.
The trio last worked together in preparation for the Ugas fight, and they are now regrouping in hopes of one more triumphant run.
According to WBC regulations, any former champion ranked within the top five is eligible for a title challenge. Pacquiao, who has been reinserted into the WBC welterweight rankings at No. 5, qualifies as a ‘Qualified Challenger’ and is therefore eligible to face Barrios for the belt.
Mario Barrios, 30, currently holds the WBC title and will face the biggest name of his career in Pacquiao. The fight promises to be a high-stakes clash between youth and experience.
In addition to his legendary boxing career, Pacquiao remains a high-profile political figure in the Philippines. He served as a senator from 2016 to 2022, launched a presidential bid in 2022, and recently ran again for the Senate, though he was unsuccessful.
Love for the sport, for the fight, and for the fans who watched him rise from poverty in the Philippines to become one of boxing’s greatest champions.