Manny Pacquiao is just one month away from making a sensational return to the ring.
The 46-year-old from the Philippines will lock horns with reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday July 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
‘Pac-Man’ announced his retirement from the sport back in 2021, just a few months after he was defeated by former WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas, drawing the curtain on his professional career having won world titles in eight divisions.
Rumours of a comeback began to circulate at the end of 2024 and after months of speculation, it was confirmed in May that the Filipino icon would resume his career and bid to become a world champion once again.
One man who has experience in facing Pacquiao is six-division world champion turned promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who was beaten by ‘Pac-Man’ in the final bout of his outstanding career back in 2008.
Speaking to Fight Hype, De La Hoya was asked to share his thoughts on his former rival’s shock comeback to the sport at 46-years-old, and claims the Filipino great can ‘absolutely’ be victorious over Barrios next month.
“I wish him all the best. Can he do it? Absolutely. Manny Pacquiao’s a legend, I think he can do it absolutely I mean it’s not gonna be easy but I think he can do it.”
In a separate interview with SecondsOut the ‘Golden Boy’ praised Pacquiao’s power but advised him to ‘be careful’ against the much younger man.
“I wish him all the best. Obviously the truth is the truth, he’s obviously not the same Pacquiao that fought me, that fought the greats. I wish him the best, be careful up there, he’s not young like he used to be but I’m sure he still has that power so anything can happen but yeah, just be careful.”
Should Pacquiao prevail against ‘El Azteca’, he will become the oldest world welterweight champion of all time, breaking the record that he actually set himself back in 2019 when he defeated Keith Thurman to capture the WBA welterweight crown at 40-years-old.
