Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) has shared the news to officially confirm he will be challenging Mario Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) for his WBC world welterweight championship on July 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on Amazon Prime.
The eight-weight world champion tweeted an image of the official fight poster with the following message: “I’m back. On July 19, I return to the ring to face WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Let’s make history!”
Pacquiao is the only boxer in history to win 12 world titles over eight divisions and only boxer to hold world titles in four different decades – 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s.
The Filipino boxing legend is already the oldest welterweight world champion in history, at the age of 40, after defeating Keith Thurman to win the WBA Super title in 2019.
The southpaw has only fought once more since then, against Yordenis Ugas in 2021, losing his WBA belt via unanimous decision at the age of 42.
Mario Barrios is 16 years “Pac-Man’s” junior. The 30-year-old became a WBA Regular super-lightweight champion in 2019, but lost the belt in his second defence to Gervonta Davis just less than two years later in 2021, stopped in the 11th round.
“El Azteca” then lost his very next fight to Keith Thurman up at welterweight in 2022. He came back to win his next three fights, picking up the WBC Interim welterweight title against Yordenas Ugas.
The San Antonio native was then elevated to full WBC world welterweight champion when Terence Crawford moved up.
The Texan has yet to earn the title outright, however, having drawn last November with Abel Ramos in his first defence of the green and gold, so still hasn’t officially won the world title in the ring.
Despite not fighting in almost four years, the WBC placed him at #5 in their welterweight rankings last week. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman explained why, “We have a rule that a fighter who has legendary status, who passes all of the medical examinations and is licenced by the local boxing commission, can be eligible to fight for the WBC title.
“He is a legend, one of the greatest fighters, he is medically fit and has been cleared to fight and has received a licence in Nevada. That is why the WBC is supporting this Voluntary Title defence by Mario Barrios. Manny called me and said that he wants to retire as WBC Champion.”
Pacquiao has been focusing on politics since retiring from boxing, but last week failed in his bid to become elected in the Philippines senate.
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