Manny Pacquiao made his return to boxing last night (Sat., July 19, 2025) after a four-year hiatus in order to focus on his political career, to challenge current WBC Welterweight champion, Mario Barrios, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And despite the lengthy layoff, “Pacman” turned in a vintage performance, going toe-to-toe with “El Azteca” in what was truly an inspired performance by the 46 year-old combat legend.
Pacquiao was as sharp as ever with his combinations, and his speed didn’t seem all that diminished. In fact, he consistently beat the younger fighter to the punch, and used his infamous footwork to evade his foe’s offense. His stamina was intact, too, as he look rather fresh after 12 grueling rounds.
While Barrios had some shining moments, they were few and far in between, and “Pacman” seemed to be the more active fighter. In the end, the judges scored the fight a majority draw, allowing Barrios to keep the belt, much to the chagrin of the “Sin City” crowd.
Check out some of the highlights:
As far as what could be next for Pacquiao, he did reveal that he will continue his boxing career, and wouldn’t mind running it back against Barrios. As for “El Azteca,” he didn’t hesitate to say he’d be more than happy to give the living legend another shot at his strap.
For more boxing news and notes click here.