Manny Pacquiao‘s controversial return to boxing has been confirmed.
The 46-year-old Filipino great will face WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday July 19.
‘Pac-Man’ drew the curtain on his professional career shortly after he was beaten by former WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas in 2021, but the eight division world champion is now set to lace the gloves up once again and potentially write himself into the history books once again.
Should he be victorious over Barrios, the 46-year-old will become the oldest world welterweight champion in boxing history, breaking the record that he set himself back in 2019 when he defeated Keith Thurman to capture the WBA title at 147lbs when he was 40-years-old.
In an interview with World Boxing News, Pacquiao’s promoter Sean Gibbons claimed the 46-year-old has targeted a ‘dream fight’ against Gervonta Davis after he defeats Barrios.
“When he beats Mario Barrios, line them up. His dream fight is Gervonta Davis. He loves that fight. He tried to get that fight for a couple of years. Gervonta kept talking about how he didn’t want to fight him at 145. Then he goes and gets smoked by Lamont Roach. So Manny Pacquiao can get this belt, and it’s going to be a wonderful ride out.”
‘Tank’ Davis is expected to face Lamont Roach Jr in a rematch in August, after their first encounter was dowsed in controversy with boxing fans calling for the lightweight stars to run it back.
Another option for the 30-year-old from Baltimore could be an exhibition bout against Jake Paul. with the pair said to be in talks for a fight to take place before the end of the year.
