Pacquiao to Face Barrios on July 19 After Four-Year Layoff
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is set to make a shocking return to the ring on July 19, challenging WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios for the 147-pound title. The bout comes after a four-year absence from professional boxing, with Pacquiao last competing in August 2021 when he lost by decision to Yordenis Ugas.
Since then, the 46-year-old Filipino icon has participated in a pair of exhibition bouts—against Korean martial artist DK Yoo and Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo—but neither performance inspired much hope for a full-scale comeback.
Fans React to Sluggish Training Footage
With the fight fast approaching, Pacquiao’s recent training footage has done little to ease concerns. A 30-second clip circulating online shows Pacquiao hitting the heavy bag with flashes of his trademark hand speed—but it's his footwork that has fans alarmed.
The comment section on X (formerly Twitter) lit up with worry.
“Legs are gone,” one user wrote.
Another added, “Them legs ain’t there, but that pop and quick twitch still is.”
A third commented, “He got tired, first time I've ever seen him get fatigued hitting the bags. Bad sign, but good luck to him, legend.”
One fan was brutally honest: “We are about to witness a live murder of Manny. Sad times we are in the boxing community.”
And perhaps most telling, someone simply wrote: “S*** is sad. Best days are behind him.”
WBC Sanctions Title Fight Despite Warnings
Despite being away from elite-level competition and focusing largely on his political career, the WBC recently entered Pacquiao at No.5 in their welterweight rankings, giving the green light for a title shot against Barrios.
At 29 years old, Barrios is in his physical prime and 17 years younger than Pacquiao. While Pacquiao remains one of the most decorated fighters in boxing history, many in the sport believe this is a risk that outweighs the reward.
A Win Would Put Pacquiao in Historic Company
Should Pacquiao defy expectations and defeat Barrios, he would become the second-oldest world champion in boxing history, trailing only Bernard Hopkins, who captured a title at 49 years and 297 days old.
However, unlike Hopkins, who trained year-round and fought consistently into his late 40s, Pacquiao has spent the last four years largely outside of active competition.
A Dangerous Game at 46
This return is not just about legacy — it could be about safety. For all his greatness, Pacquiao has not been “living in the gym” the way fighters must when age is no longer on their side.
With the fight just weeks away, fans, analysts, and former pros are watching closely — not for glory, but for signs of a career that may be overstaying its welcome.
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May 17, 2025 12:12 AM
