Manny Pacquiao is set to make good on his promise of a ring return.
The Filipino fighting legend has been away from the sport since a loss to Yordenis Ugas back in 2021. Prior to that, he has been an eight-division world champion and competed in 72 professional bouts against some of the generation’s best.
Despite a successful political career, the 45-year-old has teased a comeback for some years now, with names mentioned from Conor Benn all the way to Conor McGregor. He also expressed interest in fighting at the Olympics but his appeal to do so wasn’t successful.
Most recently it’s not a big-money spectacle or a record-breaking amateur stint he wants, but another world title.
With the news that Terence Crawford is to move up to 154lbs and thus relinquish his undisputed status at welterweight, Mario Barrios was named WBC World Champion.
The champ’s trainer, Bob Santos, has now told World Boxing News that an agreement is in place for ‘PacMan’ to be the first challenger.
“Once Mario was getting elevated, Pacquiao wanted to make history, and Barrios is the guy that he wants to fight for the WBC title.
We’re all moving forward, no doubt about it. It’s just a matter of putting together where the fight is gonna be and all the little details here and there. But Manny wants the fight, and Mario wants the fight.”
Barrios was previously the WBA Super-Lightweight Regular Champion before moving up in 2022. He has 29 wins and just two losses to Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman.
Pacquiao’s own win over Thurman on 2019 at 40-years-of-age made him the oldest welterweight champion in history. This fight would give him the chance to break his own record.
