• Manny Pacquiao returns to boxing to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title.
• The fight will take place on July 20, 2025, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
• Pacquiao aims to make history as one of the oldest champions if he wins.
• Barrios, 30, is the current champion, bringing youth and size advantages into the ring.
• This bout marks Pacquiao's return after retiring in 2021 following a loss.

Former world champion Manny Pacquiao is set to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 20, 2025, marking his return to boxing after a four-year hiatus. The fight will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where Pacquiao will look to recapture a world title at the age of 46, demonstrating his sustained passion for the sport despite concerns over his age and lengthy absence from the ring, according to SCMP and Aljazeera.

Pacquiao last fought in 2021, suffering a defeat to Yordenis Ugas, but has expressed eagerness to return, stating, “I feel like I’m in my twenties again.” His dedication to the sport remains strong, as he has trained rigorously to prepare for this title fight, which he views as a significant opportunity to solidify his legacy. Pacquiao's previous experience in the ring, having won championships in eight different weight classes, positions him as a formidable opponent for Barrios, who holds a professional record of 29 wins and only two losses, according to India Times and Aljazeera.

Arriving to compete as the underdog, Pacquiao emphasizes the surprises he has delivered throughout his career, suggesting that he still has the capability to perform at a high level. At the pre-fight conference, he stated, “I’m enjoying training camp as much as I did when I was 26 or 29 years old.” Barrios, acknowledging the challenge posed by Pacquiao, remarked, “Manny has been doing this his whole life and understands what it takes to go in there... At the end of the day, he’s just another man in there,” showcasing respect for the living legend's achievements but reinforcing his own confidence in the bout, as reported by SCMP and India Times.

This coming showdown is not only a fight for the title; it also symbolizes Pacquiao's return to the sport he loves, aiming to enhance his renowned legacy further. If victorious, he would set a record as one of the oldest fighters to capture a world title again, achieving a remarkable milestone in boxing history, according to Aljazeera and India Times.