Manny Pacquiao is stepping back into the ring and already has a belt to win.
The former boxing champion and Philippines senator is ending his four-year retirement and will face Mario Barros for the WBC welterweight championship on July 19 in Las Vegas, according to ESPN.
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The fight will reportedly be streamed via PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view, and will come a month after Pacquiao’s induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 8. Pacquiao is also currently campaigning to reclaim a Senate seat after leaving the chamber in 2022.
Elections are scheduled for May 12.
The eight-division champ has already been cleared to fight by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, per ESPN, and is taking advantage of a WBC rule that allows a former champion to request a title fight upon returning from retirement.
The 46-year-old Pacquiao last fought a sanctioned bout on Aug. 21, 2021, losing to Yordenis Ugás by unanimous decision in a bid for the WBA (Super) welterweight title he was stripped of for inactivity earlier that year. His last win was in 2019 against Keith Thurman, and his last win by finish was against Lucas Matthysse in 2018.
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He did compete in an exhibition bout last year, though, going the distance against kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in a fight with no judges at Super Rizin 3.
Pacquiao announced his retirement in Sept. 2021 shortly after confirming he would be running for president in the Philippines. Running as the nominee of the PROMDI party, he finished third behind winner Bongbong Marcos and independent candidate Leni Robredo, with 6.81% of the vote.
