Manny Pacquiao is on the cusp of making a record-breaking return to boxing.
The 46-year-old Filipino great will take on reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday July 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao has not fought since the summer of 2021 when he was beaten by former WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas, going on to announce his retirement from the sport shortly after to focus on his career in politics.
One man who has spoken on a few occasions about Pacquiao’s impending return is legendary fighter-turned-promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who faced ‘Pac-Man’ in the final bout of his career back in 2008.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, ‘The Golden Boy’ claimed he would ask Pacquiao just one simple question ahead of his shock comeback which has divided the boxing community since it was announced.
“I would ask a simple question, and please Manny tell me the truth. Why? That’s it, that’s it. Why? Why are you coming back? And the warrior that Manny is, he’s gonna be like ‘Because I love to fight and I wanna fight the best and I’ve been watching boring fights and I wanna come back and give a show against Barrios who’s a world champion’, that’s a true legend for you.”
A victory for Pacquiao would see the 46-year-old become the oldest world welterweight champion of all time, breaking the record he set himself when he defeated former WBA champion Keith Thurman in 2019 when he was aged 40.
