Boxing

“Boxing is my passion”: why the 46-year-old Pacquiao is fighting again

Published

1 year ago

July 16, 2025

Los Angeles – in the recently named Freddie Roach Square shopping center in Hollywood, a crowd gathers, which collects in Hollywood, in the middle of a hot July.

They are not necessarily for food, although the word is that food is delicious. They are waiting for the only eight -time world champion in boxing, politician and the most notable athlete of the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao, to visit his favorite restaurant, just as he is known after training in the legendary Vine Street Roach gym, Wild Card Boxing. Four years have passed since Pacquiao trained at Wild Card, and those in the crowd were not sure that they would see him here.

Some fans have photos to sign, others have boxing gloves. One person just has a child and a pen. Some just want to take a look at the lively legend before his return to the WBC WBC WBC Master Mario Barrios on Saturday in Las Vegas.

“I’m coming back because boxing is my passion,” said Pacquiao Espn. “That’s all I think about and I really like to create history.”

The 46-year-old Pacquiao announced a return to boxing after a four-year retirement after losing to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. The story he talks about would beat her own record as the oldest warrior who won Golda in semiconductor, and the feat he achieved, beating Keith Thurman with the title of WBA at the age of 40 in 2019. Title after induction, whether he should defeat Barrios.

Now, 24 years later, a warrior from General Santos in the Philippines has returned to where it all began: training at Wild Card under the watchful eye of Roach as weaker to fight for the title of master at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Behind the closed Entrance at the back of a miniature parking lot Freddie Roach Square behind the door with the sign with the inscription: “Please close”, one of the most notable boxers in the world of chrząka and exhales when Shadowboxes, its calves tightening and relax with each blow. His friends and family are gathered in the gym, encouraging him. 65-year-old Roach, returned to a player who worked with masters such as Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan and Peter Quillin, has, among others, half a smile when he looks at how his student throws himself around the gym with the same enthusiasm, whose Roach he witnessed in 2001, when the then Pacquiao Pacquia saw him and asked him to keep him up For the fact that Traint held him for him.

“In May 2001 we only arrived in San Francisco on vacation and stopped for about a month and a half,” recalls Pacquiao. “But eventually we visited several gyms in Bay Area. Then we went by Greyhound bus to Los Angeles and asked if there was a boxing gym and a wild card was indicated.”

Roach was impressed when he got on the ring with Pacquiao.

After one round I went to the corner and told my boys: “I have a recent warrior!” And Manny went to his corner and he said [his manager] Rod [Nazario]”We have a recent trainer!” Roach said ESPN.

Less than a week in his recent relationship, Pacquiao was called to step on a two -week notification of Lehlo Ledwab’s forehead for the title IBF Junior Pen to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the formal introduction of the Philippine to the American audience. The time has come to see if the low time of Roach from Pacquiao would have any impact on his performance.

Spoiler alert: Yes.

The legendary commentator Jim Lampley has nice memories of the meeting with Pacquiao for the first time during the fight.

“At the meetings of Manny fighters, he tried to combine three or four words of English,” said Lampley ESPN. “At that time he did not have enormous English -speaking abilities, but he got his points. He communicated with us, and the next night he entered the ring and undressed Ledwab.”

To the surprise of all followers, Pacquiao broke through the hardly striking Ledwab, stopping him in the sixth round to win the second of 12 world titles in record eight classes of weight.

That night, everything changed in the case of Pacquiao, Roach and Wild Card.

“When Manny defeated Ledwab, Wild Card felt like it was the headquarters of the Manny Pacquiao fan club,” said Roach. “His fans are genial, but tenacious. They would gather in the parking lot to see him when he arrived, they ate lunch next to them, bought shirts and left. It is really amazing what is happening here when manny is in the city to train for fighting.”

Although certainly things It has changed within 24 years of this fight, many things remain the same. The fans are still tenacious, the fans are still stopping at Nat Thai, whenever Pacquiao is preparing to fight, and Hall of Famer still looks as always. He blows up a bulky bag by force and beats his sparring partners.

“I feel that I’m starting again,” said Pacquiao. “I am very passionate and the fire is burning in me again. One day I went 30 rounds, and Freddie had to enter to stop training.”

However, the fact is that it is a 46-year-old boxer who leaves a four-year pension in an incredible attempt to win the world championships. Pacquiao told ESPN that he needed four years to allow his body to cure and focus on a political career in the Philippines, which included a senatorial term in 2016-2022, in 2022 the presidential course in 2022 and the unsuccessful offer of returning to the Senate this year.

The former opponent of Pacquiao, who became the analyst Chris Algieri, believes that Pacquiao should have participated in the fight before he entered the ring with Barrios, who is 16 years elderly.

“[The time off] He absolutely did not assist him, “said ESPN Algieri, who lost the decision from Pacquiao in 2014.

Since the fight of Algeri, Pacquiao has gone 5-3 and is noticeably slower and less explosive. In his last fight with Ugas Pacquiao seemed afraid and for the first time he could not trust his athleticism to create a significant offensive explosion. Only 16% of his blows landed, which is a low career in a 12-round fight. Ugas and power stunned every physical advantage.

“I wasn’t really 100% concentrated because I had a continuous process in managing paradigm sports. There were many dispersion and I was disturbed by a training camp,” said Pacquiao. “On the night of the fight I could not move because my legs were tight, and this disappointed me, because Ugas was the easiest opponent of my career. I lost only because I could not move the way I wanted.”

“Far from me to say what manny can and can’t do, because I had a place in the ring to see how he has been unthinkable for years,” said Lampley. “I don’t think he defeat Barrios and I don’t know if I will be right about it. I can be wrong, but it is not logical. Logic is the father’s time. It is the inevitability of the final deterioration in boxing. This is what we have to expect. But if anyone can do it, then manny Pacquiao.”

Certainly it is a risk for a warrior closer to 50 than 40 to ask his body to do things he once did, especially against the younger and powerful opponent. However, this is a calculated risk that Pacquiao used when the right opportunity appeared. The possibility that he saw when he watched Barrios won less than the impressive victory over Fabian Maidana in May 2024 and again, when he fought with Ambel Ramos to part on the basis of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson in November.

Although Pacquiao has not won the fight for six years, WBC rules say that the former master may ask for a fight for the title after retiring.

“Barrios is a adaptation for Pacquiao,” said Algeri. “[Barrios] He is a bulky warrior in the front, who does not differ in his stab, who fights his head on the front foot and will stand on the ground and trade blows. And he has quite sluggish feet. … if you are Manny Pacquiao and you are watching the last two fights of Barrios, there is no s —, he thinks he could beat this guy.

“But I haven’t seen Pacquiao for a long time.”

When Barrios heard Pacquiao chose him to return, he wasn’t sure what to think.

“It was fun that he knew who I was and wanted to fight me, but I did not know whether to take it as a form of respect or disrespect because he wanted to fight me,” Barrios said recently. “I respect him, but he tries to accept my title and I have to make sure that I do not.”

To return, Pacquiao needed the blessing of his wife, Jinkee, who asked her husband to retire repeatedly, in particular after Pacquiao was brutally knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012.

“She saw that I still have this fire in me,” Pacquiao said about forcing my wife to return to boxing. “I told her that I could defeat Barrios and asked her what she thought.” Yes, you can fight him. If it’s your opponent, prove to me that you can fight. “

Despite this, even after signing Jinkee, why should he want to come back with everything he has already achieved?

“I always bring surprises,” said Pacquiao smiling after training hours. “Nobody thought I would beat Ledwab. I surprised everyone when I defeated Marco Antonio Barrera. Nobody thought I would beat Erik Morales. I like to bring fans of good surprises and I know that I could beat Mario Barrios.”

Pacquiao had A career full of surprises in a square circle. A miniature teenager who became a professional in 1995, Pacquiao made an unlikely entry from 112 to 154 pounds and routinely proved that skeptics are confusing during one of the most impressive episodes in boxing history, when he collected world titles in a dizzying show of offensive fire.

While fighting Barrios Pacquiao, he will return to a friend of the place where he debuted in America in a low time and offered his first of many surprises when he upset Ledwab. He also overcame Miguel Cotto, choked Oscar de la Hoya and showed his father Time, who the boss was when he defeated Thurman, everything at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“I love to create history there,” said Pacquiao. “I have so many great memories and after 24 years I never imagined that I would return to MGM to win another world title. This is just a blessing from God.”

What the future of Pacquiao will bring after Saturday can also be a surprise. Should he master history again, would Pacquiao be comfortable, going to the sunset, is this the beginning of another unbelievable distribution of his career?

“It’s tough to say what tomorrow will bring,” Pacquiao said after a long break. “I always leave it to God, and he gave me a chance to fight again. But if my body feels powerful after this fight …”

He stopped because of another fight. But if we know something about Pacquiao, it’s still full of surprises.

Boxing

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch: Live Results and Fight Updates

Published

1 hour ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch: Live Results and Fight Updates

By Boxing News 24 Desk – 10/17/2026 – Comments

Dubois defends his WBO heavyweight title against Wardley on DAZN PPV at The O2 Arena in London on Saturday, October 17.

Fabio Wardley gets another crack at Daniel Dubois five months after dropping him twice but losing their first fight. Dubois recovered to stop Wardley in the 11th round in Manchester.

UPCOMING

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley

2026-10-17 · 14:00 ET / 7:00 PM UK · O2 Arena, London · Live on DAZN

Daniel Dubois0

AFTER0ROUNDS

Fabio Wardley0

ROUNDDaniel DuboisFabio Wardley

Wardley returns as the challenger. Dubois makes his first defence against the heavyweight he dethroned in May, with DAZN PPV and DAZN Ultimate Tier carrying the rematch.

Start Time and Ring Walks

Coverage starts at 7 p.m. BST / 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT.

Dubois and Wardley are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 10:30 pm BST / 5:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm PT. All times fall on Saturday, October 17.

DAZN PPV Price

The standalone PPV costs £24.99 in the UK and $59.99 in the USincluding the undercard and main event.

DAZN Ultimate Tier subscribers receive the event without a separate PPV purchase.

Full Fight Card, Weigh-In Results and Expected Times

Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley

WBO heavyweight title

Dubois: 253.9 lbs (115.17 kg) | Wardley: 248.3 lbs (112.63 kg)

Expected ring walks: 10:30 pm BST / 5:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm PT

Louie O’Doherty vs Michael Gomez Jr.

British and Commonwealth lightweight titles

O’Doherty: 134.12 lbs (60.84 kg) | Gomez Jr.: 134.3 lbs (60.92 kg)

Approximate start: 9:30 pm BST / 4:30 pm ET / 1:30 pm PT

Adam Olaniyan vs Dan Garber

Heavyweight

Olaniyan: 250.15 lbs (113.47 kg) | Garber: 223.15 lbs (101.22 kg)

Approximate start: 9:10 pm BST / 4:10 pm ET / 1:10 pm PT

Bakhodir Jalolov vs Solomon Dacres

Heavyweight

Jalolov: 255.12 lbs (115.72 kg) | Dacres: 242.9 lbs (110.18 kg)

Approximate start: 8:10 pm BST / 3:10 pm ET / 12:10 pm PT

Nelson Birchall vs Levi Gilles

Approximate start: 7:10 pm BST / 2:10 pm ET / 11:10 am PT

Image: Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch Live Results and Fight Updates

Watch Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 on DAZN

About the author

Boxing News 24 Desk

BoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy.

Boxing

Atif Oberlton Promises Exciting Future Ahead of Deon Nicholson Match

Published

4 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Atif Oberlton Promises Exciting Future Ahead of Deon Nicholson Match

Undefeated American light heavyweight Atif Oberlton believes there is plenty more to come after rating his last performance seven out of ten as he prepares to face knockout puncher Deon Nicholson on November 7.

Oberlton improved to 17-0 with a shutout decision over Roamer Alexis Angulo in August, but believes he has another level to reach despite winning every round.

Speaking exclusively to World Boxing News, the Philadelphia southpaw reflected on his victory over Angulo and becoming the first fighter to stop Carlos Gongora earlier this year.

“They said Carlos Gongora was going to be a very tough opponent, and he was one of my toughest challenges thus far. He’d never been stopped, and I was able to get the stoppage pretty early on because I locked in and trained the way I needed to.

“Looking back, I’d rate my performance against Angulo maybe a 7 out of 10—I could have definitely done better. But this camp is different mentally. We had a lot of factors going on last time, but I’m entirely focused now,” he told WBN.

The assessment comes as promoter Dmitriy Salita looks to establish Oberlton as America’s leading light heavyweight.

Oberlton Faces Nicholson

Nicholson enters their November 7 contest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with 19 knockouts from 23 victories and a reputation for dangerous punching power.

The Alabama fighter was previously linked to a showdown with former undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev, making him another significant test for Oberlton.

“Nicholson is a good opponent—a good dance partner. We’re getting closer to the level of opponents that allow for a standout performance because the challenge keeps stepping up. I definitely don’t take him lightly. I respect everyone who gets in the ring and stands in front of me, but I’m going to go out there and do what I trained to do.”

The ten-round bout at Kiva Auditorium will be Oberlton’s fourth appearance of 2026, with Salita Promotions delivering on its promise to keep the unbeaten contender active.

Atif Oberlton pictured with promoter Dmitriy Salita ahead of his fight against Deon Nicholson — Salita Promotions

Salita Promotions Keeps Promise

Oberlton says his relationship with Salita has allowed him to build momentum while continuing to work toward a world title opportunity.

“Salita Promotions told me they were going to keep me busy when I signed, and they’ve kept their end of the bargain. I’m keeping mine by going out there, performing, and winning—whether by early stoppage or decision.

“As long as they keep putting people in front of me, I’m going to keep fighting. Every time I step in the ring, I want to perform better than the last time, climb the ladder, and take some hardware home. I’m ready to take some candy.”

Oberlton has already stopped Joseph George and Gongora in 2026 before proving he could dominate over ten rounds against Angulo.

With 14 knockouts in 17 victories, Oberlton has shown he can finish opponents early and control fights over the distance.

Now, with another training camp behind him and a fourth fight of the year approaching, Oberlton believes his best performances are still ahead of him.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Boxing

Tony Bellews Bold KO Prediction for Dubois vs Wardley 2: Yep, I Said It

Published

8 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Tony Bellew's Bold KO Prediction for Dubois vs Wardley 2: "Yep, I Said It"

Tony Bellew is going against the grain for tonight’s Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley rematch.

The pair meet again just five months on from their thrilling first encounter, with Dubois now WBO champion having won the belt from Wardley via eleventh round stoppage.

After surviving two early knockdowns, the Londoner – who is now in his second stint as heavyweight titlist – took over the contest with a solid jab setting up thudding attacks that exhausted Wardley.

Though the Ipswich man stayed on his feet throughout, referee Howard Foster waved it off as the punishment because too much.

It is how the fight ended, and those last few rounds in which Dubois was largely dominating, that make him a strong favourite to retain his belt.

Giving his prediction to the BBCformer cruiserweight world champion Bellew backed Wardley to have success early again, but capitalise fully this time and end it.

“I’m going to be the difference. I am going to back Fabio Wardley by knockout within six rounds. Yep, I said [it]. I’m going for Fab within six.”

Dubois was on the canvas within ten seconds last time out, and took a knee in the third when hurt again.

Bellew has questioned Dubois’ resolve in the past, pointing to his stoppage loss to Joe Joyce as proof that there is a point he can be pushed to that he is not willing to go beyond. Many, however, will look to the first Wardley performance and disagree.

Both men recorded the highest weights of their careers on the scalessuggesting that neither will be changing the gameplan to a more measured affair, rather looking to engage in round 13 from the off tonight at London’s O2.