Manny Pacquiao Linked With Sensational Return to Boxing This Summer

Manny Pacquiao could be in line to return to boxing in the coming months, even though he has not fought since a 12-round decision loss to Yordenis Ugas at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas almost four years ago.

The multi-weight world champion is one of boxing’s most celebrated fighters of the modern era, thanks to his stretch atop the pound-for-pound charts, his rivalry with elite Mexican fighters like Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Marco Antonio Barrera, together with his role in the best-selling combat sports spectacle of all-time — the 2015 bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Though Pacquiao still takes part in boxing exhibitions, he has a whole life outside the sport thanks to his family, and served as a senator of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is currently embarked on a senate campaign and is seeking election on May 12. Regardless, one report suggests he could be fighting for a world championship this summer, too.

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Manny Pacquiao Linked With Spectacular Comeback

Pacquiao could fight for a legitimate world championship in boxing

The popular and rising account on X, Brunch Boxing, posted on Monday the 21st of April that Pacquiao could fight again this year.

“The long-rumoed bout between Mario Barrios and Manny Pacquiao is in talks for the summer, as early as July.”

The post added: “Nothing can or will be announced until after the conclusion of Pacquiao’s senate campaign in the Philippines. Election is May 12.”

This follows reporting from GIVEMESPORT’s Alan Dawson, who found positive discussions from both Pacquiao’s manager, Sean Gibbons, and the coach of Mario Barrios, Bob Santos.

Both told us that the fight was legitimately being talked about. For Pacquiao, it was a chance to fight one more time, on a close deadline, as he’s 46 years old. Against Barrios, it provides Pacquiao with a chance to extend his own world record as the oldest fighter in the welterweight division to win a championship at 147 pounds. Santos told us Barrios was keen to make the fight happen, too.

Barrios fought Abel Ramos to a grueling draw in his last WBC welterweight title fight, which took place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on the undercard of the Jake Paul and Mike Tyson event which aired on Netflix. A fight between Pacquiao and Barrios could, perhaps, be the next male fight Netflix airs. Netflix is also broadcasting the trilogy bout between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, which takes place in New York in July.