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Manny Pacquiao officially announces fight vs. Mario Barrios for WBC welterweight title on July 19

Manny Pacquiao officially announced on Wednesday that he's coming out of retirement.

The boxer's return, previously reported two weeks ago, will occur on July 19 in Las Vegas when he faces Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship.

"On July 19, I return to the ring to face WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas," he added. "Let's make history!"

The Pacquiao-Barrios fight will reportedly be streamed via PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view.

The bout versus Barrios will be the first for Pacquiao since he lost to Yordenis Ugás by unanimous decision in a match for the WBA (Super) welterweight title that had been stripped from him due to inactivity. Pacquiao won that title in 2019 by defeating Keith Thurman in a split decision. His last win without going to a decision was a 7th-round TKO over Lucas Matthysse in 2018.

During his previous 26 years in boxing, Pacquiao became the only boxer to win 12 world titles in eight different weight classes, including the more acclaimed divisions of flyweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight.

When Pacquiao defeated Thurman, he became the oldest fighter to win the WBA (Super) world championship at age 40. He is a four-time welterweight champion.

Last week, the WBC put Pacquiao at No. 5 in its welterweight rankings, a controversial decision considering the fighter's four-year absence from the ring. However, WBC rules allow a former champion to request a title fight after returning from retirement, according to ESPN.

"Pacquiao has been licensed by Nevada and passed all medicals and as legendary WBC champion has been approved to fight by our organization," WBC president Mauricio Suliman said on X in justifying the decision.

As previously planned, Pacquiao officially announced his return to boxing after the election results for a Senate election in the Phillippines were tallied last week. Pacquiao lost his bid for a second run as a senator, an office he held from 2016 to 2022, finishing in 18th place.

Overall, Pacquiao's records is 62-2 with two draws. He will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 8.

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