Manny Pacquiao to return in world title fight at 46 years old after four-year hiatus
Manny Pacquiao is set to square off against Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title this summer after four years away from the professional ring.
That is according to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, who confirmed that the Filipino boxing legend will fight for the green and gold strap in July.
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Speaking to Boxing King Media, he said: “At this time, Mario Barrios is going to fight Manny Pacquiao in July.
“That’s a tremendous fight. Manny Pacquiao’s first [world] title was at flyweight, with the WBC.
"And [now] he wants to retire as the WBC champion, so he’s fighting in the welterweight division.”
A fight between Pacquiao and Barrios was being explored last year.
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However, talks cooled after Pacquiao's dismal display against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo last July in an exhibition bout.
'Pacman' looked every one of his 46 years as his head was repeatedly snapped back by Anpo, who was making his boxing debut.
Despite this, Pacquiao still believes he has what it takes to hang with the current crop of boxing stars.
"I made history at 40 beating Keith Thurman, and I feel at 45, I have a lot left in the game as I haven't taken a lot of punishment over the last few years," Pacquiao told ESPN last year of a potential fight with Barrios.
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"I want to go out making history."
Pacquiao has been actively competing in the exhibition sphere, although he hasn't fought in the paid ranks since August 2021, when he was beaten by Yordenis Ugas on points.
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In stark contrast, Barrios, who is 17 years Pacquiao's junior at 29, has boxed five times since the eight-weight world champion's clash with Ugas.
He picked up the WBC interim welterweight title when he defeated the aforementioned Cuban in September 2023 and was subsequently elevated to full world champion last June when Terence Crawford relinquished the belt to move up to super welterweight.
Barrios retained his title after being held to a split draw by Abel Ramos on the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson undercard last November.
The Mexican-American is 29-2-1 as a pro, with his two defeats coming against Gervonta Davis and Thurman.
At present, there is no WBC mandatory at 147lbs.
However, Souleymane Cissokho and Egidijus Kavaliauskas are due to compete in a final eliminator on May 10 in Equatorial Guinea.
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