Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is stepping back into the ring after a four-year hiatus, aiming to make history at age 46.
After many have thought that was the final bell when he announced his retirement and shifted focus to public service in 2021, now, four years later, the Pambansang Kamao is lacing up his gloves again to prove that greatness doesn’t fade with age.
The eight-division world champion is set to face WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios on Sunday July, 20 (Manila time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao’s opponent, Mexican-American champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios, a younger, taller, and more active fighter, poses a significant challenge for the Filipino icon. With clear height and reach advantages, he is expected to press the pace and test Pacquiao’s timing and conditioning after years away from professional competition.
More than just another fight, this bout is a chance for Pacquiao to make history. A victory over Barrios would not only earn him the WBC welterweight belt — it would also make him the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history.
Will history be made? Can the People’s Champ defy age and expectations once more? IMT Sports
REPORTING by Gierson Bordon, West Visayas State University College of Communication intern; EDITING by Reymar Latoza
