Manny Pacquiao is one month away from making a shock return to the sport at 46-years-old.
The eight-division world champion will lock horns with reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday July 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao announced his retirement from boxing four years ago when he suffered a shock defeat to former WBA world welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas in what was his last ring appearance as a professional.
At the peak of his career, ‘Pac-Man’ faced a number of generational greats including Floyd Mayweather, who he went up against in the ‘Fight Of The Century’ a decade ago.
Despite the hype surrounding the monumental showdown, the fight itself failed to live up to expectations and left fans disappointed at the its conclusion. Mayweather was declared the winner via unanimous decision to unify the WBC, WBA and WBO welterweight titles.
Speaking on the Cigar Talk podcast, Pacquiao was asked to reveal his hardest ever fight, but actually overlooked his showdown with Mayweather in a surprising claim.
“[Miguel] Cotto fight. He’s strong, he’s heavy handed.”
Pacquiao successfully defended his WBO world welterweight title against Cotto in November 2009, stopping the Puerto Rican legend in the 12th and final round of their competitive battle at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The Filipino icon could capture a world title at 147lbs once again next month, as he sets his sights on writing his name into boxing history once again by becoming the oldest welterweight champion of all time, breaking the record he actually set himself in 2019 when he dethroned WBA champion Keith Thurman in what was his last victory as a professional.
