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Arab News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
‘Rested' Pacquiao relishing boxing comeback at 46
LOS ANGELES, United States: Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, told reporters on Tuesday that the glamor of championship boxing had prompted his return. 'I'm returning because I miss my boxing,' Pacquiao said at a press conference in Los Angeles. 'Especially these situations — being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. 'I missed that. But it has been good for me — I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back.' Pacquiao said that he had been left devastated following his decision to retire in the wake of his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. 'I always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, 'I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,'' Pacquiao said. 'That moment when I announced hanging up my gloves four years ago — I was so sad. I was crying, I cannot stop the tears coming out my eyes.' Pacquiao, though, revealed that working out at his home in the Philippines persuaded him he still had the fitness and strength to fight. 'I realized when I'm playing basketball, training at the gym my house — I have complete sport facilities in my house — that I still have that passion. I still have that speed and power,' he said. Some in boxing have expressed concerns about whether Pacquiao's comeback against Barrios, who is 16 years his junior, represents a risk to the Filipino's safety. Addressing those concerns, Pacquiao noted that his family and loved ones were firmly behind his comeback. 'I'm thankful for them for their concern,' Pacquiao told AFP. 'But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style.' Pacquiao, who has reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's fight, is able to challenge immediately for a title due to a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a title fight when coming out of retirement. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told AFP on Tuesday that Pacquiao had been cleared to return to the ring by the Nevada Athletic Commission after undergoing medical exams, describing the fighter's comeback as 'low risk.' 'Manny Pacquiao is at no higher risk than any fighter going into the ring,' Sulaiman said. 'Manny has rested his body for four years. He's not a drinker. He's not a drug user. He's a family man that has taken care of himself. So of the different aspects of dangers, he's at the lowest risk.' Pacquiao's opponent, Barrios, said he would set aside the Filipino's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era. 'There's nothing but good things to say about him outside the ring,' Barrios said of Pacquiao. 'He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed. 'And I know if at any point he has me hurt, you know he's going to get me out of there. So I just have to go in there and make sure that my hand is raised at the end of the fight.'
The Independent
11 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Manny Pacquiao shares realisation and ‘perfect' news that inspired comeback
Manny Pacquiao has shared the revelation that inspired his return to professional boxing after a four-year absence, as the 46-year-old prepares to face Mario Barrios. On 19 July, Pacquiao will challenge Barrios, 30, for the WBC welterweight title, aiming to break his own record as the division's oldest-ever world champion. Pacquiao set the current record at 40 years old, when he beat Keith Thurman in 2019, while his most recent pro bout was a loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. The Filipino icon has not boxed professionally since, though he fought kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in an exhibition last summer. 'I like making history, it's nice,' a smiling Pacquiao told ESPN this week. 'I always stay in shape, but once I started seriously working out again, I realised that I still had that passion and ability in me. 'I went to my doctor and everything was perfect. My medicals came back great. I feel good, and I'm ready to do it again. 'I trained wrong for that [Ugas] fight. My legs began cramping, and I couldn't move. He was a very slow opponent, and I couldn't believe that I couldn't move my feet or my legs. But for this camp, I'm back with my longtime trainer, Freddie Roach. The old Manny will be back. 'It's hard to say right now [if I'll box again after the Barrios bout]. It's one fight at a time. Once I get through this, we can talk about the next fight.' WBC rules state that all title holders must defend their belts against a 'Qualified Challenger', including any former WBC champion. As such, Pacquiao, who recently re-entered the WBC rankings at No 5, is eligible for a title shot against Barrios. Pacquiao, who will enter the Las Vegas fight with Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) with a pro record of 62-8-2 (39 KOs), is widely considered one of boxing 's all-time greats. He is the sport's only eight-weight world champion. He is also known for his political endeavours in his home country of the Philippines, where he served as a senator from 2016 until 2022. He also ran for president in 2022 but was unsuccessful, and last month came up short in a senatorial race.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Broadcaster Jim Lampley calls possible Manny Pacquiao return ‘sad'
Famed broadcaster Jim Lampley has expressed his sadness at reports that Manny Pacquiao is set to return to the ring in July against Mario Barrios. Speaking on Chris Mannix's podcast, Lampley said that while he understood the desire of Pacquiao to return at the age of 46, he felt it was 'sad' that the soon-to-be Hall of Famer had chosen to come back. Lampley said: 'It's just sad that he feels any reason or urge whatsoever. However, on the other hand, fighters fight. It's what they do.' Watch over 150 boxing events a year live on DAZN - subscribe now The broadcaster, who recently returned to call the fights that took place in Times Square a few weeks ago, compared his situation to that of the Filipino boxer. He said: 'I was back doing something I love and getting paid for it, so I understand why Manny wants to come back and do something he loves and get paid for it, but it's one thing to talk into a microphone when you've been a few years away and you're a little bit older. It's entirely a different thing to go in and hit and get hit.' Pacquiao, 62-8-2 (39) is reported to be facing WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios later this year, a situation seemingly bolstered by the Filipino's new place within the WBC's rankings this week at number five. This ranking means that he is eligible to challenge for the sanctioning body's belt. The former multiple-weight world champion last fought in August 2021 when he dropped a unanimous decision to the Cuban Yordenis Ugas for the WBA belt. Since then, Pacquiao has 'fought' exhibition bouts against DK Yoo in December 2022 and kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in July 2024. Ugas, who was 26-4 (12) at the time, melted out of title contention soon after with two subsequent losses. While the first of those losses was a stoppage in ten rounds to Errol Spence Jr, then 27-0 (21), he then dropped a wide unanimous decision to Barrios in September 2023. Barrios, 29-2-1 (18), hails from San Antonio, Texas, and won the interim WBC title against Ugas. He has since defended it against Fabian Andres Maidana, 24-4 (18), and Abel Ramos, 28-6-2 (22). After winning a unanimous decision over Maidana, Barrios laboured to a draw against Ramos. While nothing is yet confirmed, the volume of talk and rumour that has built in the last week around a Pacquiao return is deeply suggestive that such an offering is in the works.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
‘I'm back': Manny Pacquiao confirms date and opponent for comeback fight
Manny Pacquiao has confirmed his widely-reported comeback, as he prepares to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title. Pacquiao, 46, will fight in a professional bout for the first time since 2021, having most recently competed in an exhibition match last July. In his last pro bout, the Filipino icon lost to Yordenis Ugas on points in Las Vegas, where he will fight 30-year-old Barrios. In last summer's exhibition, he went the distance with kickboxer Rukiya Anpo. 'I'm back,' Pacquiao wrote on social media on Wednesday (21 May). 'On July 19, I return to the ring to face WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Let's make history! #TeamPacquiao.' WBC rules state that all title holders must defend their belts against a 'Qualified Challenger', and this includes any former WBC champion. As such, Pacquiao, who has re-entered the WBC rankings at No 5, is eligible for a title shot against Barrios. Pacquiao, widely considered one of boxing 's all-time greats, is the sport's only eight-weight world champion. In July 2019, in his second-most-recent pro bout, he beat Keith Thurman to become the oldest welterweight champion in history aged 40. He will look to surpass his own record when he boxes Barrios. Pacquiao is also known for his political endeavours in his home country of the Philippines, where he served as a senator from 2016 until 2022. He also ran for president in 2022 but was unsuccessful, and last week came up short in a senatorial race. This week, Pacquiao's former promoter Bob Arum expressed concern over 'Pac Man''s comeback. The Top Rank chief told The Ring: 'I can't say anything negative, because Manny meant so much to us and our company, but it seems really questionable that – at his age – he would put himself at risk by going into the ring with a champion fighter. 'He's an amazing person, Manny Pacquiao, and if anybody can do it, he can do it. But I'm really concerned about it, given his age and his inactivity. But again, I will certainly be rooting for him, because he's really a great guy who has meant so much to us as a company.'
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Josh Taylor open to exhibition with returning Manny Pacquiao, 46, having named his late DOG after boxing great
JOSH TAYLOR is open to sharing the ring with Manny Pacquiao - having named his late DOG after the boxing hero. The Filipino great is on the verge of announcing a shock comeback aged 46 to fight WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios. 4 4 4 Pacquiao was once a dream bout for Taylor - who named his pet Staffordshire Bull Terrier after PacMan. Sadly, Taylor's Staffie passed away in 2020 but he commemorated his beloved dog with a tattoo on his thigh. And he would also be ready to honour Pacquiao in the form of an exhibition bout. Taylor told The Herald: 'Listen, I would absolutely give my left foot to share a ring with my hero. It would be absolutely amazing. "But as a competitive fight, I don't think I would want it. What's in it really for me is a lose-lose. "If I go in there and I win, I've beaten up a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao. Or if I go in there and I lose, I've lost to a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao. "So, it's a lose-lose situation. But in terms of just going in there and doing an exhibition, just sharing the same ring with my hero, would be absolutely fantastic.' Pacquiao retired in 2021 after defeat to Yordenis Ugas but following a failed presidential campaign in the Philippines he is returning to boxing. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS And he was controversially slotted fifth in the WBC rankings - despite not winning a fight for six years. Taylor also now moves up to welterweight after dropping his 140lb WBO title to Teofimo Lopez in 2023 before losing his rematch to Jack Catterall last May. Josh Taylor reveals his toughest ever fight that left him peeing BLOOD for five days and unable to walk The Scot faces former British champion Ekow Essuman, 36, up at 147lb on Saturday in Glasgow with the WBO European belt at stake. Taylor said: 'It's good because it gives me a title, which then gives me a ranking on the world scene. 'But at this point in my career I'm just thinking one fight at a time. I made that mistake in the lead-up to the [first] Jack Catterall fight, looking at what was going to be after it. "And I almost paid the price for it. So I'm not making that mistake again. I know there won't be a shortage of options moving up and moving forward at welterweight. 'I'm only 34. I didn't turn pro until I was 25, you know? So it's not like I've been pro since I was 16 or 17 and been in loads and loads of wars. I'm still fresh.' 4
