Table of Contents
- Manny Pacquiao return to boxing at the age of 46 sparked a debate in the boxing world
- He returns to the ring on July 19 with a big fight against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas
- The World Boxing Council (WBC) says he passed all his medicals and Nevada licensed him to face off with Barrios
Manny Pacquiao return to boxing at the age of 46 took many people by surprise, more so boxing pundits who have varied views about his comeback.
He returns to the ring on July 19 with a big fight against Mario Barrios, a WBC Welterweight champion at the MGM Grand Stand in Las Vegas.
It’s just four years since he announced his retirement to focus on politics and his personal life.
He threw his hat into the ring and vied for the Presidency in the Philippines in 2022 but lost to Bongbong Marcos.
His decision to retire was to allow him to focus on his presidential campaign, which he launched on 1st October 2021. He vied via a PROMDI Party ticket.
PROMDI was affiliated with PDP-Laban, another big political party in the Philippines. Four years later, the man whom many admired for following his heart is back in the ring.
What Led to Manny Pacquiao Return to Boxing?
Manny Pacquiao retired in 2021 to focus on politics but he is now back to the ring. Photo/CBC
The 46-year-old boxer felt life was incomplete without boxing for four years. His adult life revolved around boxing rings until October 2021, when he ventured into politics.
He lost and kept a low profile, living a quiet life with his family. Most people talked about the history he made over the years.
However, he pulled a surprise for boxing fans with a brief Manny Pacquiao return to boxing announcement on his social.
Boxing Analysts Views on the Return of Manny Pacquiao
Owen Lewis expressed mixed reactions to Pacquiao’s latest decision. He said that other legendary boxers have done it before, including Mike Tyson.
Tyson returned to the ring in his 50s to face off with a younger boxer, Jake Paul, in November 2024.
Paul would later win against Tyson because of his fast moves. Owen notes that speed is and will be a factor for Manny Pacquiao return to boxing.
He said that while the Filipino boxer is good at boxing, he is now old and will likely be slower, which isn’t good for him.
Manny Pacquiao. Photo/ Business Insider.
Sport journalist Ryan Songalia asserted that Pacquiao was ‘lost’ in his decision to return to the ring. Songalia said the Filipino has nothing left in boxing to prove at 46.
He argued that a fight with Barrios remains inconsequential to his career at this point. He [Pacquiao] has already fought against big names and won.
He lost some matches, but not without a good fight. Songalia insists that Pacquiao should have continued with his retirement.
However, his coach Justin Fortune, thinks otherwise. He is confident that Pacquiao will shake the boxing world in Las Vegas during his fight with Barrios.
Fortune said that his confidence in Manny Pacquiao return to boxing is from a point of strength and experience.
Even at 46, the Filipino is fast and strong enough to face any welterweight boxer.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) welcomed Pacquiao back to the ring by reinstating his rankings. WBC defended itself against criticism from several quarters, noting that the boxer met all requirements.
Mauricio Suliman, the WBC president, said that Nevada licensed Pacquiao for the Las Vegas fight after passing his medicals.
Pacquiao seems driven by his old age to make more history in the welterweight boxing category. He made history in 2019 when he beat Keith Thurman and won WBA’s Super world title at the age of 40.
