Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, aged 46, set for comeback in global title contest following four-year break.
Fight Night Approaching: Manny Pacquiao Challenges Mario Barrios for WBC Welterweight Title
Get ready, boxing fans! Manny Pacquiao is gearing up to face off against Mario Barrios this summer for the coveted WBC welterweight title. The news comes from WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, who confirmed the highly-anticipated matchup will take place in July.
Speaking to Boxing King Media, Sulaiman said, "Mario Barrios is going to fight Manny Pacquiao in July." This gives us fans an exciting summer showdown to look forward to!
Pacquiao's first title in the WBC division was at flyweight, and he aims to retirement as a champion, holding the green and gold strap in his final bout.
Rumors of a Pacquiao vs. Barrios fight have been swirling for some time. However, negotiations cooled down after Pacquiao's less-than-stellar performance against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in an exhibition match last July.
Despite his setback, the Filipino boxing legend, now 46, maintains he still has what it takes to compete with the best. When discussing a possible fight with Barrios last year, Pacquiao told ESPN, "I want to go out making history."
Meanwhile, Barrios, who is 17 years Pacquiao's junior at 29, has been staying active, boxing five times since Pacquiao's last professional fight. In September 2023, he picked up the WBC interim welterweight title, and after Terence Crawford relinquished the belt, Barrios was elevated to the full world champion in June 2024.
At present, there are no WBC mandatory challenges at 147lbs, but Souleymane Cissokho and Egidijus Kavaliauskas are set to square off in a final eliminator on May 10 in Equatorial Guinea. The winner of that match could pose a threat to the highly-anticipated Pacquiao vs. Barrios fight.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting fight!
Bonus Content:
Top Contenders to Watch Out For
Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman are two notable names circling the welterweight division. Davis, with an impressive 27-0 record, has yet to challenge Barrios for the title. Thurman, now retired, beat Pacquiao in 2019, making him an interesting contender to watch for potential rematches.
When's Pacquiao's Senate Re-election?
Manny Pacquiao is running for re-election as a senator in the Philippines during the scheduled elections on May 12, 2025. This may impact the formal confirmation of the Pacquiao vs. Barrios fight, as preparations will be delayed until after the elections.
Sources:
- BoxingScene
- ESPN
- Rappler
- Inquirer
- EW
This summer will see Manny Pacquiao squaring off against Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title, as confirmed by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman. The young challenger, Barrios, has been elevated to full world champion in the division after Terence Crawford relinquished the belt, following his win in September 2023 against an interim title. Meanwhile, Egidijus Kavaliauskas and Souleymane Cissokho are set to battle in a final eliminator on May 10, potentially posing a threat to the eagerly-awaited bout between Pacquiao and Barrios. With the fight approaching and Pacquiao also running for re-election as a senator in the Philippines by 2025, boxing fans are in for an exhilarating ride.
