Why Manny Pacquiao came out of retirement to return to boxing after 4 years away
He didn't need to come out of retirement to prove that. The eight-division champion and hero of the Philippines has already done plenty.
But Pacquiao is back.
He's taking on WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Here's why:
Why did Manny Pacquiao come out of retirement?
Manny Pacquaio offered a simple explanation for his return to ESPN's Andreas Hale:
"I'm coming back because boxing is my passion. It's all I think about, and I really like to make history."
Pacquiao is trying to break his own record.
In 2019, he won the world welterweight title when he beat Keith Thurman. Pacquiao was 40 then, the oldest to ever accomplish that feat.
Now at 46 years old, Pacquiao would shatter his own mark and likely leave it out of reach for anyone else.
Is this it?
"It's hard to say what tomorrow holds," Pacquiao told ESPN. "I always leave it to God, and he gave me the chance to fight again. But if my body feels strong after this fight..."
MORE: Ranking Manny Pacquiao's best fights
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