Could Manny Pacquiao re-enter the professional ranks? Possibly.
On August 21, 2021, Pacquiao was scheduled to fight Errol Spence Jr. for the unified welterweight title. However, an unexpected injury sidelined Spence Jr. and opened the door for Pacquiao to fight Yordenis Ugas for the WBA Welterweight Championship. At the end of 12 rounds, all three judges turned in the following scorecards in favor of Ugas: 116-112, 116-112, 115-113. One month after the bout, Pacquiao formally announced his retirement from the sport after a career that spanned more than two decades. In retirement, he ran for President of the Philippines in 2022, but ultimately fell short of realizing his political aspirations. After formally conceding the election in May of 2022, he set up a boxing exhibition with mixed martial artist DK Yoo in South Korea, and rumors began to fly about the possibility of Pacquiao ending his retirement to fight the likes of Conor Benn or WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios.
Currently, Pacquiao is working to earn a seat in the Senate of the Philippines. However, once election results are announced in May, he could decide to re-enter the professional ranks yet again.
“After the May 12 election, God willing, if Manny becomes a Senator for a second term, he will decide if he wants to box again,” Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons, told The Ring. “I wish there was more, but Manny is in a very tight race, and the last thing he has on his mind right now is boxing.”
If Pacquiao were to return to the ring, the most likely opponent would be Barrios. Previously, Gibbons said that a fight with Barrios was “perfect” and “very winnable.” Barrios is 3-2-1 in his last six fights, picking up an impressive win against Ugas and losing a lopsided decision to Keith Thurman.
