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.
Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.
Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.
The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.
Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.
Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.
“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.
It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.
“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”
Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.
Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.
Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.
Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.
Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.
Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.
“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”
Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through.
Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 25, 2026
The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.
Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.
Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.
‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.
One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.
“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.
“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.
“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.
“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”
The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.
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