July 18, 2025<\/p>\n
MANILA \u2013 Manny Pacquiao is turning 47 this December. On Saturday, he will challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the biggest question that hovers as Pacquiao\u2019s ring return after a four-year retirement nears is, can he still fight at the top level at 46 years old?<\/p>\n
READ: Manny Pacquiao \u2018hungry\u2019 for comeback after four-year layoff<\/a><\/p>\n Without a doubt, Pacquiao believes so.<\/p>\n \u201cI always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, \u2018I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,\u2019\u201d Pacquiao said during a press conference last month.<\/p>\n Pacquiao felt the long break did him more good than harm.<\/p>\n READ: Pacquiao resumes grind in Las Vegas, mindful of body at 46<\/a><\/p>\n At Pacquiao\u2019s advanced age and all the mileage from fighting ever since he was 16 years old, the layoff was much needed.<\/p>\n \u201cFour years rest has been good for me,\u201d Pacquiao said. \u201cI\u2019ve been in boxing for so many decades, so it\u2019s good for my body to rest for four years.\u201d<\/p>\n Stepping away also reignited his passion for the sport.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hungry to fight again. I\u2019m hungry to fight in a big fight like this. To work hard, have discipline, everything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve missed boxing. I feel like the passion, the fire in my eyes, working hard \u2014 it\u2019s still there.\u201d<\/p>\n When Pacquiao retired<\/p>\n Not long after his stunning loss to Cuba\u2019s Yordenis Ugas, Pacquiao announced his retirement from boxing.<\/p>\n He then campaigned for the Philippine presidency in the 2022 general elections and finished a distant third.<\/p>\n Although he had hung up his gloves, Pacquiao was never really out of the boxing spotlight.<\/p>\n LIST: Boxing\u2019s oldest champions Manny Pacquiao hopes to join<\/a><\/p>\n He figured in a couple of exhibition bouts while rumors about a potential comeback fight came up every once in a while.<\/p>\n Pacquiao\u2019s first exhibition was against South Korean martial artist and YouTuber DK Yoo<\/a> in Korea in December 2022.<\/p>\n He followed it up two years later in Saitama, Japan against former kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo.<\/p>\n Pacquiao found himself back in politics but failed in his bid for Senate reelection last May in the 2025 midterm elections.<\/p>\n Shortly after, Pacquiao\u2019s comeback fight was made official.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, the book of politics is closed,\u201d Pacquiao said in an interview with The Associated Press during a press conference in Los Angeles. \u201cIt\u2019s not even in my mind. I\u2019m focusing on my career as a boxer again.\u201d<\/p>\n Pacquiao\u2019s last title fight<\/p>\n The last time Pacquiao fought as a pro, he relinquished the WBA belt to Ugas by unanimous decision in August 2021 and he looked far from the version of himself that knocked down and handed Keith Thurman the first loss of his career just two years prior.<\/p>\n His most recent ring appearance also didn\u2019t go as planned.<\/p>\n READ: Manny Pacquiao says Anpo exhibition a \u2018good tuneup\u2019 for comeback<\/a><\/p>\n What was expected to be a light workout turned out to be a reality check after Anpo\u2019s youth and size gave Pacquiao a hard time in their three-round exhibition.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a good tuneup for me to come back in boxing. And I realized a lot of things to develop more and work on,\u201d said Pacquiao.<\/p>\n At that time, Pacquiao was in talks to fight Barrios.<\/p>\n What people are saying about Pacquiao\u2019s comeback<\/p>\n Some of Pacquiao\u2019s former rivals have him defying the odds and beating Barrios on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).<\/p>\n His fellow boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya, whom he stopped in their December 2008 showdown, is confident about Pacquiao\u2019s chances.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely. Manny Pacquiao\u2019s a legend. I think he can do it,\u201d De La Hoya said in a story on The Ring.<\/p>\n