- Pacquiao has not competed professionally since retiring from boxing in August 2021.
- But he said he wants to finish his career with the WBC welterweight title.
- The 45-year-old will face Chihiro Suzuki for the first time in an exhibition match in Japan.
Manny Pacquiao's return to boxing has been confirmed ahead of a possible world title fight next year.
The 45-year-old, who last boxed professionally in 2021, has not stepped into the ring since an exhibition bout with DK Yoo in December 2022 but is aiming for the WBC welterweight title against Mario Barrios.
As for reaching that goal, he told ESPN, “I made history when I was 40 by beating Keith Thurman. And now that I'm 45, I haven't done too much damage the last few years, so I feel like I can still play baseball. I want to make history.”
Barrios is 16 years younger than the veteran Pacquiao and has only lost two of his previous 31 fights, so his return would be a shocking one for the American.
But one of those losses was against Thurman, which Pacquiao won, and the Filipino's preliminary bout is currently booked.
Manny Pacquiao's return to boxing has been confirmed ahead of a potential world title fight.
The 45-year-old is eyeing a fight for the WBC welterweight title against Mario Barrios (pictured).
But he will first face RIZIN Fighting Featherweight Champion Chihiro Suzuki (pictured) in an exhibition bout.
Pacquiao will face Rizin featherweight champion Chihiro Suzuki at 150 pounds on July 28 in Saitama.
The bout will be an exhibition fight with three three-minute rounds to help Pacquiao maintain his focus.
Following his loss to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021, he announced his retirement, but Manny Macchiao Promotions president Sean Gibbons revealed that the boxing icon is seeking the final title shot of his career.
“Manny is considering the option of fighting Mario Barrios,” Gibbons told Sky Sports. “He likes the idea of finishing his career with the WBC title, it was his first belt all those years ago.”
“We're going to be battling it out for the next two weeks.”
Pacquiao beat Keith Thurman (right) at age 40, becoming one of just two men to defeat Barrios.
His final exhibition bout will be in 2022, with the July bout scheduled to consist of three three-minute rounds.
The belt both men are gunning for was made vacant by the WBC after Terence Crawford was designated the “champion in recess” due to his hiatus, and interim champion Barrios was promoted.
Barrios defeated Ugas on points in September 2023 to win the belt.
