"PacMan" Makes A Comeback! Challenges Mario Barrios For WBC WW Title

Last Updated:July 03, 2025, 17:06 IST

Pacquiao returns to boxing on July 19, 2025, to challenge WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios at MGM Grand Garden Arena after a four-year hiatus and Hall of Fame induction.

Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is set to return to the ring. (AFP)

The boxing world has been set ablaze again! Manny “PacMan" Pacquiao, the legendary eight-division king, is lacing up the gloves once more for a sensational return. On Saturday, July 19, 2025, the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas will host his challenge against WBC Welterweight World Champion Mario “El Azteca" Barrios, live on PBC Pay-Per-View via Prime Video.

This isn’t a tune-up; the WBC granted Pacquiao a direct title shot, a bold move that screams either supreme confidence in the 46-year-old icon or a shrewd commercial play for his undeniable drawing power. For purists, it means the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Pacquiao’s comeback ends a four-year hiatus, following his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugás and subsequent retirement to pursue politics. After an unsuccessful bid for another Senate term in May 2025, the “book of politics is closed," he declared, his focus now solely on the sweet science. He confessed, “I couldn’t avoid the tears coming out of my eyes. I missed boxing."

The timing is cinematic: his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Class of 2025, just weeks before the fight, adds a layer of historical gravitas to this unprecedented chapter.

The challenge is immense. Mario Barrios, 30, is a formidable champion with a 29-2-1 record (18 KOs), boasting significant physical advantages: 6’0" height and a 71" reach against Pacquiao’s 5’5.5" and 67". It’s youth versus experience, power versus unparalleled ring IQ. Barrios, respectful yet resolute, stated, “He’s just another man trying to take what’s mine."

Pacquiao has reunited with his maestro, Freddie Roach, at the Wild Card Gym. He claims the four-year rest has been “good for me," reigniting his “fire" and “hunger." While he insists his hand speed and athleticism are still present, even running with younger boxers, he admits to needing “a couple of adjustments for bodily recovery," with his team actively “trying to slow him down." This glimpse behind the curtain reveals the realistic battle against time. When British promoter Eddie Hearn predicted Barrios would be “too young and too strong," Pacquiao simply smiled: “Just watch on July 19th."

Pacquiao’s legacy is already etched in stone: the only eight-division world champion, holding titles across four decades. His 62-8-2 record (39 KOs) speaks volumes. This comeback aims to break his record as the oldest welterweight champion, a feat he first achieved at 40. “This fight is very important to me because it’s history," he declared, hinting at “two or three more fights left."

The “People’s Champ" is back, jovial and confident, ready to entertain and redefine what’s possible. The countdown to an unforgettable night has begun.

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Location :

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

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News sports "PacMan" Makes A Comeback! Challenges Mario Barrios For WBC WW Title