'Don’t judge the number, judge the punch': Pacquiao, 46, to fight Barrios for boxing comeback

Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is set to return to the ring at age 46, taking on WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in a highly anticipated bout scheduled for Saturday, July 19, in Las Vegas. While the venue remains unconfirmed and the event has not yet been officially announced by promoters, Pacquiao’s camp made the news public late last week.

The announcement comes just hours after the former senator conceded defeat in his latest bid for re-election to the Philippine Senate. Despite the political setback, Pacquiao reaffirmed his commitment to public service, saying in a statement, "The fight continues. Service continues. For God. For the country. For each Filipino."

Pacquiao, who last fought professionally in August 2021—losing by unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas—has since participated in a series of exhibition matches. His most recent bout, a non-scoring exhibition against former K-1 champion Rukiya Anpo which ended in an underwhelming draw, sparked criticism and concern over his continued involvement in the sport.

The upcoming fight will coincide with Pacquiao’s formal induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame set on June 5-8 in Canastota, New York. The eight-division world champion, who began his professional career in 1995, holds a record of 62 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws, with 39 knockouts. He is the only boxer in history to secure world titles across eight divisions, from flyweight to super-welterweight.

Mario Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs), 30, retained his WBC title after a controversial draw with Abel Ramos in November. He was originally in talks to face Pacquiao last year, but the matchup failed to materialize until now. Seen by some observers as a “very winnable” opponent for the aging Pacquiao, Barrios is nonetheless expected to pose a serious challenge.

Pacquiao and his team landed in Los Angeles on Sunday to begin preparations for the fight. A formal press conference is expected in the coming days.

Pacquiao shared footage of his initial training session at the Wild Card Gym on his official YouTube channel on May 20, 2025, where the legendary eight-division world champion reunited with familiar faces, including his longtime mentor Freddie Roach.

"This is the beginning of another chapter. I'm inspired, I'm motivated, and I'm ready to show the world that I still have what it takes," Pacquiao said in a statement.

Within the boxing ring, perhaps no one possesses a deeper understanding of Manny Pacquiao's capabilities than Hall of Fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach.

“It's a tough road for anyone at this age to do what Manny is trying to do. But if anyone can do it, Manny can,” Roach told The Ring in a statement provided by his publicist, Fred Sternburg.

"I'm very concerned about Pacquiao," stated Top Rank boss Bob Arum, though he added he'd still be rooting for the living legend to pull off the win.

“I can’t say anything negative because Manny meant so much to us and our company,” Arum said. “But it seems really questionable that, at his age, he would put himself at risk by going into the ring with a champion fighter. I mean, George Foreman wasn’t even his age – he was younger when he beat Michael Moorer. And George had been active over the years prior to that fight with Moorer. Manny hasn’t been active at all, really. He’s an amazing person, Manny. And if anybody can do it, he can do it. But I’m really concerned about it, given his age and inactivity. But again, I will certainly be rooting for him because he’s a really great guy who has meant so much to us as a company.”

Hall of Fame trainer Teddy Atlas was even more blunt. In an interview with Slingo, Atlas questioned whether Pacquiao is returning for the right reasons. “I hope Manny Pacquiao is not fighting for money because the great Manny Pacquiao with all the greatness in his life and everything he’s accomplished and done in the ring outside the ring, for his people, for the Filipino people, for the world, for the audience, the boxing fans.

“For all that he’s done – it would be unfair to have him now, at this point in his life, to be having to fight for money, Atlas said.

Trainer Buboy Fernandez defended Pacquiao’s decision. “Don’t judge the number, judge the punch,” Fernandez told FightHype, referring to critics concerned about the boxer's age.

Pacquiao’s pride, legacy, and power are back under the lights. On July 19, we’ll find out if the legend still has the punch to match the name.