Manny Pacquiao, who retired almost four years ago, will return to the ring in July to face Mario Barrios for his WBB Welter weight title, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao He will end his withdrawal of almost four years to face Mario Barrios for the WBB welter weight championship on July 19 in Las Vegassources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
The fight will be available through PBC in Prime Video in Payment per event.
Pacquiao, 46, fought for the last time in August 2021, when he lost by unanimous decision against Yordenis Ugas For the AB Superwelter championship. After the defeat, Pacquiao announced his retirement on social networks to focus mainly on his political career. However, the first and only world champion of eight boxing divisions has kept his eye on the sport that made him a recognized name.
Rumors about his return have circulated during the last year. In July 2024, Pacquiao competed in a boxing exhibition fight against the Kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in Super Rizin 3. The name of Pacquiao has been linked to a fight back with neighborhoods since the end of last year.
At least a week after the fight Canelo-Alvarez-William Scull in Saudi Arabiathe president of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaimán, told Boxing King Media that the plan was that Barrios defended the title against Pacquiao in the summer, although he also pointed out that Pacquiao had already received authorization to compete from the Athletic Commission of the State of Nevada. The WBC has rules that establish that an ex -chart can request a fight for the title after leaving the retirement.
-“At this time, Mario Barrios will face Manny Pacquiao in July,” Sulaimán said. “It’s a tremendous fight.”
The first and only world champion of eight boxing divisions will enter the boxing hall next month. In addition, it is in the middle of a close contest by the Philippines Senate, where it was a senator between 2016 and 2022. According to Brunch Boxing, Pacquiao will not formally announce its return to boxing until after the May 12 elections. However, everything indicates that the announcement of Pacquiao will be a mere formality, since its return to boxing is imminent.
San Antonio representative, Barrios (29-2-1, 18 kos) fought for the last time against Abel Ramos on the preliminary billboard of the victory by Jake Paul’s decision over Mike Tyson. He won the interim Title of the WBC in September 2023 by exceeding Uugas by points and amounted to absolute champion in June 2024 after Terence Crawford was appointed “champion in recess” of the WBC after climbing at 154 pounds to face Israil Madrimov. The only two neighborhood losses have been against Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman.
The co -west fight will be a rematch among the unified superwelter champion, Sebastian Fundora (22-1-1, 14 KOS), Y TIM TSZYU (25-2, 18 KOS). Both faced each other previously on March 30, 2024. TSZYU was originally scheduled to face Keith Thurman, but an injury forced him to retire less than two weeks before the planned date. Fundora replaced it with short in advance and won by decision divided into a surprise victory.
TGB Promotions currently has the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas waiting for July 19. However, the Mayhem Ball tour of Lady Gaga is promoting for July 16, 18 and 19, which would probably move the fight to neighbor MGM Grand Garden Arena, where Pacquiao debuted in the United States and won its first important world title against Lehlohonolo Ledwaba on June 23, 2001.
