Manny Pacquiao will seek to write another incredible chapter in one of boxing’s most decorated careers on Saturday night when he challenges Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title.
However, Pacquiao’s ring return has mainly prompted concern rather than excitement among the boxing fraternity.
Trying to win a major title at 46 years of age in his first fight after a considerable lay-off looks like a high-risk task with a slim chance of success.
Pacquiao is boxing’s only eight-weight world champion in history, and this would not be the first time he has overturned the odds having been told he is attempting the improbable.
But what reasons does Pacquiao have to truly think he can pull this off? Are there any clues from his previous fight?
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When was Manny Pacquiao’s last fight?
Pacquiao last boxed professionally on August, 21, 2021, when he lost to Cuba’s WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas via a 12-round unanimous decision.
Judges Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld scored the fight 116-112 in Ugas’ favour, while Patricia Morse Jarman gave Pacquiao an extra round, scoring the contest 115-113.
Pacquiao had been due to face the then-undefeated WBC and IBF champion Errol Spence in a unification clash. On August 10, Spence withdrew due to an eye injury.
Ugas had been slated to defend the WBA belt, which Pacquiao won in his previous fight against Keith Thurman in July 2019 before being stripped due to inactivity, against Fabian Maidana on the undercard and was bumped up to the main event.
According to Compubox, Pacquiao threw around double the punches Ugas did, but the champion was more accurate and clinical, outlanding his esteemed foe.
After the defeat, Pacquiao spoke about targeting a January 2022 rematch. The following month, he announced his intention to run in the 2022 Philippines presidential election and an official boxing retirement promptly followed.
Since his second retirement — Pacquiao initially said he would walk away from the sport after his 2016 trilogy matchup with Tim Bradley, only to box Jessie Vargas for the WBO welterweight title six months later — Manny has had two exhibition bouts.
He faced South Korean martial artist DK Yoo in Goyang in December 2022, winning a six-round decision. In July last year, Pacquiao and former K-1 Super Lightweight champion Rukiya Anpo boxed to a three-round draw in a bout with no judges and where knockouts were prohibited.
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