Manny Pacquiao looks to do something unprecedented in return to boxing
Manny Pacquiao looks to do something unprecedented in return to boxing
Manny Pacquaio is set to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Sunday, June 8. At which point he'll be in position to do something no boxer has ever done.
Reign as a world champion as a Hall of Fame inductee.
Now 46, Pacquaio indicated he's motivated and fit enough to make history as he prepares to fight Mario Barrios, the 30-year-old WBC world welterweight champion, Friday, July 19, in Las Vegas.
Pacquaio said he's running up the mountains again, a ritual that has propelled the Filipino boxing star as he has trained for countless fights. And during a news conference Tuesday in Los Angeles, Pacquaio noted his pro boxing career started in 1995 and yet all these years later he still has 'the fire, the determination, eagerness to train hard, to work hard. Even now I'm enjoying working out hard, like running the mountain, working out in the afternoon. Amazing.''
Yet he faces a metaphorical mountain, too.
For starters, he's 16 years older than Barrios. Also, this will be his first pro fight since 2021, when he lost to Yordenis Ugas by unanimous decision. He has not won a boxing match since 2019.
But Pacquiao made history before.
He is the sport's only eight-division world champion. And in 2019, he became the oldest welterweight world champion when he defeated Keith Thurman for the WBA world title.
On Tuesday, Pacquaio (62-8-2, 39 KOs) welcomed his age gap with Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) being viewed as helpful experience rather than a liability.
'A big factor for this fight,'' Pacquaio said. 'I've been through a lot of hard fights. Hard, hard fights and experience.''
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