MANNY PACQUIAO is gearing up for a comeback, as he’s set to clash with Mario Barrios on Sunday, July 20 (Philippine Time). However, it seems the legendary Filipino fighter has someone else on his mind.
In front of a live crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Pacquiao will attempt to take Barrios’ welterweight title. But beyond that, at 46 years old, he’s looking to make history as one of the oldest fighters to secure a major victory.
Even as the spotlight focuses on Barrios, Pacquiao’s thoughts are already drifting to what lies beyond this anticipated showdown. One big possibility he’s considering is a long-awaited rematch with his familiar rival, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Rematch on the Horizon?
It was inside this very same arena that Pacquiao and Mayweather squared off on May 2, 2015, in what became the highest-grossing fight in boxing history.
Despite the hype, the bout itself left many fans underwhelmed. Mayweather relied on his signature defense to earn a decisive points win over Pacquiao, unifying three welterweight titles in the process.
Now, a decade later, Pacquiao still feels that fans were robbed of the explosive battle they deserved. That’s why he firmly believes a rematch needs to happen.
“Of course [l’d be interested]. He’s been ducking [the rematch],” Pacquiao told Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Wednesday about a potential second fight with Mayweather.
“I don’t want an exhibition with [Mayweather], I want a real fight. It’s been a long time [since the first fight]. I want to give the fans a good fight between me and [Mayweather], but he’s been ducking, avoiding me,” he added.
Still, no matter how much Filipino pride or fan speculation surrounds a potential rematch, the reality is clear — Pacquiao must first overcome a serious challenge this Sunday in the form of Mario Barrios.
Don’t Count Him Out
Barrios, 30, is a reigning champion in his prime who’s often been underestimated — only to prove his worth time and again. He gained significant respect in the boxing world after going toe-to-toe with Gervonta “Tank” Davis in a hard-fought 2021 bout.
Although he suffered a setback against Keith Thurman afterward, Barrios bounced back impressively with three straight wins, including a notable victory over Yordenis Ugas — the same fighter who sent Pacquiao into retirement in 2021.
“The reason [l’m coming back] is that boxing is still my passion. I still have the ability to get a belt and win a world title fight. The Ugas fight, I was distracted. There [were] so many distractions before the fight,” he explained.
Even after claiming titles in eight different weight divisions and securing his place in boxing’s Hall of Fame, Pacquiao felt unfulfilled with how he left the sport — prompting his desire to return to the ring and reignite his lifelong passion.
“Two years [after I announced my retirement], I really missed boxing. I really missed those days. Training camp, promoting the fight, everything like that. I was consulting my family, my wife, and it just happened that my wife [gave me her blessing],” he said.
Earlier this year, Pacquiao placed 18th in the Philippine Senate race, effectively putting his political aspirations on hold—at least for now—and allowing him to fully concentrate on his goal of becoming the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history.
“He’s taller than me, and he’s a champion,” Pacquiao described Barrios. “To become a champion, it’s not that easy, so at least he’s proven something: That he can fight.”
In just a few hours, Pacquiao is set to make his highly anticipated return to the ring against Barrios. If the People’s Champ emerges victorious, it would mark the perfect moment to seriously begin discussions about a potential rematch with Mayweather Jr.
