Manny Pacquiao returns from retirement and straight into a title fight as he takes on WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in a 12-round headliner on Saturday, July 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live worldwide on Prime Video (7:00 p.m. local / 10:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 a.m. UK).
This isn’t just a comeback—it’s a 45-year-old Hall of Famer trying to snatch another belt two years after walking away, facing a champion 17 years younger and almost 7 inches taller. Barrios isn’t here to host a retirement party. He’s here to end one.
Pacquiao still wants smoke — Barrios wants to slam the door shut
Let’s not pretend Pacquiao’s doing this for fun. This is one last lunge at greatness. If he beats Barrios, he breaks his own record as the oldest welterweight champion in history—and does it just weeks after entering the Hall of Fame. Sound insane? That’s Pacquiao’s lane.
His last big win came in 2019 when he dropped and outpointed Keith Thurman. Then came the loss to Ugas in 2021. Since then? Silence. Until now.
Barrios, meanwhile, isn’t playing narrator in Pacquiao’s fairytale ending. He’s the defending WBC champion, on a three-fight unbeaten run, and looking to erase any “interim” or “paper champ” talk. “Sharing the ring with a legend like Pacquiao is an honor,” he said, “but once the bell rings, it’s all business.”
The stakes are real: legacy, legitimacy, and survival
Pacquiao has nothing left to prove—but that’s never stopped him before. He’s gunning for another “oldest champion ever” tag and wants to go out on his terms, not buried by time. He still punches hard. He still brings angles that make younger fighters look lost. But if his legs don’t show up, this ends badly.
Barrios isn’t unbeatable, but he’s no filler opponent. He dropped Yordenis Ugas twice, sent Fabian Maidana to the deck, and gutted out a wild draw with Abel Ramos. The guy throws in volume, wears you down, and brings heat from range.
If he beats Pacquiao, the respect rolls in. No more “just a regular belt holder.” No more “best win is Ugas.” A win here puts him on posters.
Event Info
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Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
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Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
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Start Time: 7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 a.m. UK (Sunday, July 20)
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Broadcaster: LIVE on Prime Video (PPV)
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Tickets: Available at AXS.com
Main Fight Info
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Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios – 12 rounds, WBC welterweight world title
‘Evrybody talkin legacy but dont know history smh 🤦♀️ Boxers who came back after retirment mostly lost big! Ali lost! Tyson lost! Time dont wait on nobody…Barrios too much for manny now!
‘Barrios dun beat ugas twice n made maidana fly — that ain’t luck 😲 Pacquio gone find out quick that comebak fights are diffrnt today than back in his prime years.
@all y’all forgettin one thing: this isn’t just bout belts or age its bout RESPECT ✊ Manny earn the right to go out swingin’ even if it end badly at least he CHOOSE how it end!
‘Scuse me but this aint Rocky movie 😂 when a man retires its cause time done caught him up! U can’t cheat the clock forever, and Barros gonna show him what TIME looks like when punchin.
I rekon Manny’s still got them trick punches that made other guyz look confuzed! U can’t teach that stuff 😤 Even at 45 he smarter than barrio by mileS. Skill beat age sometime trust me.
PacMan iz not jus doin this for funsies like some peeps say. Is legacy, its heart 💪 even if hes old, who say old men cant box? u watch how he move, angles be cray still.
But Lscott u miss point… boxing not just about heart, it bout body too 😓 and his legs might not work same no more. That Barrios boy don’t play soft!
No no NO!! If we talk legacy then y risk it all now?? What if he looses big? Then all people member is him fallin down not rising up ☠️
I dont get why evryone is thinkin Pacquiao still gots it. He old now, like real old, and Barrios is young n fresh!🤷♀️ He gonna get hurt if he tryna fight like back in 2010s. It aint smart at all. He should stay retirered instead of riskin he’s health for some belt he already had before.