Towards ‘Boxing Immortality’ or ‘Road to Infamy?’

FORMER senator Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao is to return to the boxing ring on July 19, 2025, to battle World Boxing Council (WBC) Welterweight champion, Mario Barrios in what could be his quest for boxing immortality or road to infamy.

Pacquiao, 46, who lost in his bid for a return to the Senate in the midterm polls under the administration ticket, would be giving away 16-years in age against Barrios, 30, in a sport where age has always been a factor.

Pacquiao’s last official fight was on August 19, 2021, when he lost by unanimous decision against Cuban boxer, Yordenis Ugas, for the WBA (World Boxing Association) belt. It was a double-defeat for Pacquiao at the time as he also lost in his bid for the presidency in the 2022 elections.

Ugas, in turn was defeated by Barrios via unanimous decision when they fought in September 2023.

Prior to this, Barrios was clobbered by Keith Thurman and gained a unanimous victory when they fought in February 2022.

Thurman took his vengeance on Barrios after suffering his first professional loss to Pacquiao when they met in May 2019 for Thurman’s WBA belt.

That victory also made history for Pacquiao as the oldest man to become welterweight king at 40 years old and the only boxer to become world champion in 4 separate decades—1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

Following his defeat in the hands of Yugas, Pacquiao staged two exhibition matches against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in July 2024 and against Korean martial artist DK Yoo in December 2022 where he performed poorly in both matches.

Going into the fight with Barrios, Paquiao would be sporting a record 62-8-2 (loss-win-draw) with 39 knockouts compared to the 29-2-1 record of Barrios with 18 knockouts.

Aside from the wide age difference, Pacquiao would also be giving away 4 inches in height advantage and 3-inches reach advantage in favor of Barrios.

As the only 8-division world champion in the history of boxing, the opinion of boxing enthusiasts was split down the middle between those believing Pacquiao still has the power, skill and stamina to become world champion once again and those believing he would only be seeking serious physical harm against the much younger Barrios.

Between 1995 until his announced retirement in 2021, Pacquiao rose from being WBC flyweight champion in December 1998 by knocking out Thai champion Chatchai Sasakul to becoming Super Welterweight champion in November 2010 after defeating Antonio Margarito for the WBC belt.