June 10, (THEWILL)- The boxing world is abuzz with speculation as legendary Filipino fighter, Manny Pacquiao, has dropped hints about a potential comeback to the ring.
The 45-year-old former multiple world champion, who retired in 2021 after an unsuccessful bid for the Philippine presidency, revealed on Monday that he is negotiating a world title fight against American boxer, Mario Barrios.
While cautioning that the potential bout is “far away”, Pacquiao confirmed ongoing talks to challenge Barrios for the WBC welterweight world title later this year. “We’re still in negotiations and we’re talking about that. The fight has not materialised yet,” he told reporters in Tokyo. “That negotiation is ongoing. It’s going to be by November or December.”
As a precursor to a potential full-fledged comeback, the boxing great has signed up for a three-round exhibition match against Japanese mixed martial artist Chihiro Suzuki next month in Saitama, Japan. Pacquiao emphasized that despite being labelled an exhibition, he is treating it as a serious fight. “We are looking for a knock-out for this fight,” he declared. “There’s going to be a lot of action in the ring and of course, I’ll do my best to win by knock-out.”
The Filipino icon had previously expressed his desire to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics but saw his hopes dashed when the International Olympic Committee rejected his special request, citing an age limit of 40 for Olympic boxers. His last professional fight was a loss to Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas in 2021, shortly before his retirement.
Pacquiao’s potential return to the big stage has sent ripples through the boxing community, with fans eagerly awaiting updates on negotiations. If a deal is finalised, it would set the stage for one of the most highly anticipated comebacks in recent boxing history.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
