Pacquiao will return on July 19 to fight Barrios for world title

Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) will return in ring after almost four years in retirement. He will face Mario Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) for WBC World welterweight title in Las Vegas on July 19, sources told “ESPN”.

Pacquiao, 46, last fought in August 2021 when he lost a unanimous decision against Yordenis Ugas for the WBA welterweight championship. After the loss, Pacquiao announced his retirement on social media to focus primarily on his political career. But boxing’s first and only eight-division world champion has kept an eye on the sport that made him a household name.

In July 2024, Pacquiao competed in an exhibition boxing match against kickboxer Rukiya Anpo at Super RIZIN 3. Pacquiao’s name has been tied to a return fight with Barrios since late last year.

At last week’s Canelo Alvarez-William Scull fight in Saudi Arabia, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Boxing King Media that the plan was for Barrios to defend the title against Pacquiao in the summer, while also noting Pacquiao had already been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The WBC has written rules that state a former champion is allowed to request a title fight after coming out of retirement.

“At this time, Mario Barrios is going to face Manny Pacquiao in July,” Sulaiman said. “That’s a tremendous fight.”