Legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao found retirement difficult to cope with after hanging up his gloves in August 2021 following a defeat to Yordenis Ugas. The Filipino icon admitted he couldn`t stop crying during this period.
However, after an unsuccessful presidential campaign in the Philippines and engaging in a couple of exhibition bouts, Pacquiao is now preparing for a significant return to the professional ring.
Known as `PacMan`, the fighter who uniquely captured world titles in eight different weight divisions, spoke openly about the emotional toll retirement took on him.
That moment when I announced I was hanging up my gloves four years ago, I was so sad. I couldn`t avoid the tears coming out of my eyes. I really missed boxing. For however many months, I was like, `I`m not a boxer anymore?`
Having been defeated in the 2022 presidential election and failing in a subsequent bid for a second term as senator this year, Pacquiao is now directing his full attention back to boxing, a contrast to his career where he often balanced politics with pugilism.
Right now, the book of politics is closed. It`s not even in my mind. I`m focusing on my career as a boxer again. I can still do my job in boxing. I`m not done yet. The fire, the determination, the eagerness to train and work hard, it`s still there. It`s amazing.
His initial steps back into the sport included an exhibition against Korean YouTuber DK Yoo in 2022, followed by another exhibition fight last July against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in Tokyo.
Despite his last official professional win dating back to 2019, discussions quietly progressed for a potential world title opportunity. It was recently announced that the 46-year-old Pacquiao is set to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title.
Under WBC regulations, contenders are typically required to be ranked within the top 15 to challenge for a championship. This requirement sheds light on Pacquiao`s controversial reinstatement into the WBC`s top five ranking in mid-May, despite his recent inactivity in professional bouts.
While Bernard Hopkins holds the record for being the oldest world champion ever at 49, Pacquiao aims to add another major title to his storied career and potentially etch his name further into the record books.
It would mean a lot for me to become world champion again. Manny Pacquiao is always giving surprises to the fans. That’s my passion and it’s really important to me. I want everyone to be happy with this fight. My goal is to leave a legacy to the boxing fans. I want to inspire the young generation who are dreaming of becoming a champion.
Looking ahead to the fight scheduled for July 19, Pacquiao expressed his expectation for an action-packed event:
July 19 is gonna be a lot of action. There’s a lot of great fights on this card. I know what Barrios is capable of and I know that we can entertain the fans.
