The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Tracy Cabrera
General Santos City, South Cotabato — Relectionist senator Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao sets his sight to get out of retirement by eyeing a world title match against World Boxing Council champion Mario ‘El Azteca’ Barrios this coming July in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Based on an Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) report, Pacquiao will be ‘un-retiring’ to fight Barrios for the welterweight title to end what now appears to be a four-year hiatus for the 46-year-old former senator and pound-for-pound king who won eight world division title crowns.
The face-off with the American pugilist, who carries a 29-2-1 record with 18 knockouts, has been scheduled tentatively on July 19.
Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes, has not fought since dropping a unanimous 12-round decision to Cuban Yordenis Ugas for the WBA welterweight crown on August 21, 2021, also in Las Vegas.
ESPN reported that WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said last week at a fight in Saudi Arabia that Pacquiao planned to fight Barrios for the crown in July and the Asian star had already been cleared to fight by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. WBC rules allow a former champion to request a world title fight when coming out of retirement.
Meanwhile, the People’s Champ is set to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame next month and faces a Senate reelection this Monday, May 12.
Pacquiao has a career record of 62-8 with two draws and 39 KOs.