Boxing
Manny Pacquiao returned, but why does he get the title?
Published
9 months agoon
Manny Pacquiao for the first time in returning to the ring for almost four years on July 19 to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title. The fight was officially announced on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao 46 is the only boxing champion. He fought the last time in August 2021, when he suffered a unanimous decision for Yordenis Ugas at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KO) won titles from Flyweight (112 pounds) to medium weight juniors (154 pounds) during his professional career, which began in January 1995. On June 8, he will be introduced to the International Gallery of Boxing Fame. Since Pacquiao became a professional in January 1995, only five male fighters fought after Ibhof.
According to ESPN Research Holly Holm, who entered Ibhof in 2022, will be the first woman to reach a feat when she fights with Yoland Vega.
If Pacquiao defeats Barrios, he will become the first warrior to win the world champion as Hall of Famer.
“I always bring surprises to fans,” said Pacquiao on Saturday at a press conference in Las Vegas. “I don’t take it slightly. I push myself to the border preparing for this fight.”
With everything he achieved in his career, why does Pacquiao come back? Why does he get a title after many years? And what is the chances of a 16 -year -old warrior?
Andreas Hale answers these questions and more.
Why does Manny Pacquiao come back at the age of 46?
He suggested his reasoning on Saturday, saying that he still loves this sport.
“I’m coming back because it’s my passion,” said Pacquiao. “I haven’t been for four years, but I always think about boxing. I really missed.”
His first post in social media confirming the fight on May 21 also mentioned the history of the fight. “I came back,” he wrote and ended the post “Make History!” Pacquiao tried to become the oldest warrior who won the welterweight championship, breaking the record he set in 2019 when he beat Keith Thurman to the WBA belt at the age of 40.
How does Pacquiao have the title shot in the return fight?
Although Pacquiao has not won the fight for almost six years, WBC rules say that the former master may ask for a fight for the title after retiring. After the announcement of his return, Pacquiao was No. 5 Ranking in welterweight by WBC. Devin Haney, SouleyMane Cissokho, Conor Benn and Egidijus Kavaliauskas.
What did Pacquiao look like when we last saw him in the ring?
Like an older and slower version of Pacquiao. Against Ugas, in 2021, Pacquiao lacked the work of legs and explosives, which made him the first world champion in boxing. His movements were predictable, and a technically sound boxer from Cuba, he maintained a Filipino feeling away from stab and looped with a looped right hand. It was a competitive meeting, but Ugas was a clear winner. According to Compubox, Pacquiao landed only 130 out of 815 stamps (19%). It was easily the most fatal performance of Pacquiao, because he lost Floyd Mayweather in his 2015 hit. In the last six fights, from November 2016 to August 2021, Pacquiao threw 10 less blows and landed seven less blows to the round compared to the first years from December 2008 to April 2016.
Who is Mario Barrios?
Barrios, who is a towering, lean to the 30-year fight with San Antonio, is a champion of WBC welterweight. In the amount of 6 feet, it is a nightmare for a 147-pound division due to its significant height advantage compared to most weight class. It is a high impact, which often denies its height and 71-inch range by choosing a fight inside.
But his recipe was successful in his career. After twisting Pro in 2013, Barrios went on 26-0 before Gervont Davis stopped him in 2021 in the junior combat of welterweight. Barrios lost another fight with the former welterweight champion in 2022, but in the last four fights he became undefeated, including a unanimous victory towards the last man who defeated Pacquiao in Ugas in 2023 in the case of a free WBC transient title.
In his last fight in November, Barrios fought with Ambel Ramos to part over Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Undercard.
“Every fight and the main event in which I was prepared for Manny Pacquiao,” said Barrios on Saturday. “This is my moment. I defend the title against legend.”
How does this affect the induction of Ibhof Pacquiao?
That’s not. Pacquiao was elected at the International Gallery of Boxing Fame in December, long before he planned to retire. Pacquiao header of this year’s class June 8, along with Vinna Paz, Michael Nunn and others.
Much for an early forecast
Pacquiao (+300 at the ESPN plant) looked ponderous and uncertain when he lost to Ugas four years ago. The boxing legend will need explosion and speed he had earlier in his career to overcome the physical advantages of Barrios. Barrios (-400 favorite) will operate his length and range to keep the opponent outside and straighten Pacquiao to keep his title by decision.
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Boxing
Gervonta Davis is close to returning to action, according to her opponent’s name
Published
10 minutes agoon
March 10, 2026
It looks like Gervonta Davis is one step away from confirming her return to the ring.
Davis last fought in March 2025, when he earned a majority draw with Lamont Roach to defend his WBA lightweight title.
It was a controversial result, with many feeling that Roach had done enough to get the nod, especially after a knockdown was not awarded in his favor after “Tank” voluntarily chose to take a knee in round nine.
The next 12 months left many in doubt as to whether Davis would return to play at all. A planned exhibition with Jake Paul in November has been canceled over the Baltimore man’s naming in a civil lawsuit over domestic allegations, the latest in a string of issues going beyond the ropes.
Another drama occurred after an arrest warrant was issued for “Tank”, citing similar accusations, which led to him being stripped of his WBA lightweight title.
Regardless, it looks like Davis is ready to make a comeback after this happened Reported by Mike Coppinger that he is in advanced talks about a fight with Isaac Cruz, the man whom “Tank” considered his number one target at the end of last year.
Davis has already secured a victory over Cruz, who last fought in December when he fought to a majority draw against former foe “Tank” Roach – a fighter he believes should be given a chance to face him again.
Boxing
The fight between Luis Nery and John Riel Casimero will take place on April 18 in Kyrgyzstan
Published
2 hours agoon
March 9, 2026
Neither player holds a title and neither has been part of any real championship talk in recent seasons. Nery has already held the bantamweight and junior featherweight belts, although his recent appearances at featherweight have shown that the path up is confined. At 126 pounds, he looked undersized and unable to apply the same pressure that once carried him through lighter divisions, which makes a return to 122 pounds a more practical move.
Saikou x Lush Boxing will promote the event as part of a three-day boxing show in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The gala will be held at the Gazprom Sports Convoluted, an extraordinary setting for two players who regularly appeared on larger international stages at the beginning of their careers.
Nery (37-2, 28 KO) will fight in Kyrgyzstan for the second time in a row after appearing there in October last year. The 31-year-old Mexican southpaw defeated Sathaporn Saart by technical decision in the eighth round after an accidental head collision put the fight on the scorecards.
The win was his second in a row since Naoya Inoue stopped him in the sixth round in May 2024. Nery made a comeback earlier in 2025, stopping Kyonosuke Kameda in the seventh round before extending his rebound stretch with a victory over Saart.
Casimero (35-5-1, 24 KOs), now 37, built his reputation by winning junior flyweight, flyweight and bantamweight titles early in his career. Activity has been confined and results inconsistent over the past few seasons, leading to him being 2-1-1 in his last four fights.
His last fight was in December, when he defeated Tom Mizokoshi in the fifth round in Japan. Two months earlier, he appeared at the same October gala in Kyrgyzstan, where Nery fought Saart and lost to Kameda by unanimous decision of ten rounds.
The April meeting brings together two former champions who once operated at the forefront of the sport’s lighter divisions. At this stage, it could be read as more of a veteran clash between recognizable names rather than a fight expected to impact the junior featherweight championship race.
Tomek Galm is a boxing journalist covering the global fight landscape since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, industry trends and fighter psychology.
Boxing
Oleksandr Usyk is naming the heavyweight fight he wants after Rico Verhoeven
Published
4 hours agoon
March 9, 2026
Oleksandr Usyk is taking Rico Verhoeven seriously, perhaps because he will face a bigger challenge later.
The elite southpaw will face kickboxing icon Verhoeven on May 23 in Egypt in a fight focused on spectacle after years of hard-fought victories on the road. Even though Usyk has strayed from his usual matchmaking, he has now assured fans that they can expect a return to top-level championship boxing later.
Speaking on DAZN’s Inside the Ring, Usyk revealed that after the fight, his goal would be to become the undisputed heavyweight champion for a third time, with his primary goal being either Daniel Dubois or Fabio Wardley.
“For me it’s a real fight. Yes, Rico is not a good boxer, ok, nice fight, no problem, but I want my next fight [against the] Daniel Dubois and Wardley winner.”
Wardley was promoted from interim to full WBO champion when the Ukrainian vacated the belt rather than face him as mandatory challenger. His first defense against Dubois, scheduled for May 9 in Manchester, is perilous.
This is a legacy-based strategy that Usyk has used in the past, dropping the IBF belt to allow Dubois’ elevation, defending against Anthony Joshua, and then facing him to regain the belt. If “DDD” defeats Wardley, he could expect a trilogy fight, but fan interest may wane given how the first two fights went.
It all depends on whether Usyk retains his three titles. Although the fight for the WBC belt with Verhoeven is highly controversial, the IBF and WBA leagues have not been mentioned yet. The sanctioning authorities may well decide to declare a vacancy in their belts.
Gervonta Davis is close to returning to action, according to her opponent’s name
COMBATE GLOBAL Announces Full Fight Card for March 12 Event in BurbankCOMBATE GLOBAL Announces Full Fight Card for March 12 Event in Burbank
The fight between Luis Nery and John Riel Casimero will take place on April 18 in Kyrgyzstan
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