Manny Pacquiao set for shock boxing return against WBC title-holder Mario Barrios

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has revealed that eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquaio is set to end his four-year boxing hiatus in a bid to further cement his legacy against WBC welterweight king Mario Barrios.

The Filipino star hasn't fought competitively since being comprehensively beaten by Yordenis Ugas in August 2021, with the 46-year-old having since ventured into exhibition scene as well as turning his fighting hand to politics.

There were murmurs that the boxing great was contemplating a professional return 12 months ago, but talk simmered on the back of Pacquiao's lopsided loss against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo.

However, speaking to Boxing King Media this past weekend, Sulaiman has confirmed that the fighter has agreed to a blockbuster clash with reigning WBC welterweight champion of the world, Barrios - who is 17 years Pacquaio's junior.

"At this time, Mario Barrios is going to fight Manny Pacquiao in July," he announced. "It's a tremendous fight!

Manny Pacquiao’s first world title was at flyweight, with the WBC, and now he wants to retire as the WBC champion, so he’s fighting in the welterweight division.

- Mauricio Sulaiman (WBC President)

Despite a clear lack of inactivity in recent years, and, for many, being well past his best, Pacquaio has spoken of his desire to stage a professional boxing return in recent months.

"I made history at 40 beating Keith Thurman, and I feel at 45, I have a lot left in the game as I haven't taken a lot of punishment over the last few years," Pacquiao told ESPN recently.

For bet365's resident boxing insider Rob Tebbutt however, 'PacMan's' rumoured return is one fraught with danger.

"It's a troubling decision for the eight-weight world champion and somebody who is rightly regarded as one of boxing's greatest ever fighters," he said.

"A return at this stage of his life, for me, is lunacy. He looked a shadow of himself in his loss against Ugas four years ago, and also looked terrible in his recent exhibition bout.

"Mario Barrios is a decent, capable fighter and has, most importantly, been active in recent years. This is a deeply concerning, and I wonder what his motivations are.

If the fight does indeed take place, then I am convinced that despite all of the fanfare and build-up to it, then Barrios will likely stop 'PacMan' and send him straight back into retirement.

- Rob Tebbutt

Mexican-American Barrioss captured the WBC interim welterweight title when he defeated Pacquaio conqueror Ugas in September 2023, before being elevated to full world champion last summer after Terence Crawford relinquished his belt after making a move to super-welterweight.

He has since retained his title via a controversial split draw with Abel Ramos on the undercard of Jake Paul v Mike Tyson in November, and will likely tackle the Filino having been beaten just twice as a professional, by Gervonta Davies and Keith Thurman.