A new rumor suggests Manny Pacquiao is in the early stages of ending his three-year hiatus from boxing, and it could come against a current WBC champion.
It has been a very long time since fight fans have seen boxing icon Manny Pacquiao compete in the ring. After winning three straight, he booked a fight with pound-for-pound fighter Errol Spence Jr. However, “Pacman” would go on to suffer a decision loss to replacement opponent Yordenis Ugas after Spence Jr. was forced out of the bout.
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The Filipino great has not fought since then and many started to believe he may have quietly retired from the sport after 72 bouts. However, late last year Pacquiao suggested in interviews that he was not done competing, and there were even rumblings about a potential exhibition rematch against Floyd Mayweather this year.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios in 2024?
Well, it looks like Pacquiao could be back this year and in an actual title fight against a top-five welterweight. On Saturday, ESPN boxing reporter Salvador Rodriguez took to X, formerly Twitter, to report sources have informed him that “Manny Pacquiao is exploring a fight with Mario Barrios.”
Barrios is the current WBC interim welterweight champion. He is on a three-fight win streak which includes a victory over recent Pacquiao foe Yordenis Ugas. His two losses in 31 pro fights came at the hands of former and current champions Keith Thurman and Gervonta Davis.
The eight-division titilist will turn 46 in December and has fought just once in the last four and a half years.
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