Manny Pacquiao eyes senate, Hall of Fame and titlist Mario Barrios

Manny Pacquiao is up for senate re-election in the Philippines May 12, and he’s going into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June. He also is enthused about returning to fight Mario Barrios Jnr for the WBC welterweight title in July.

“It’s a possibility,” Pacquiao advisor Sean Gibbons told BoxingScene Friday. “Manny is a modern-day George Foreman, Archie Moore and Bernard Hopkins.

“He has taken care of himself, lives a clean life and would be up for this. The Hall of Fame comes if you’re out of the ring for three years. It doesn’t mean you can’t fight again.”

Following reports of the bout (first from Brunch Boxing), BoxingScene has learned the target date is July 19, sending eight-division champion Pacquiao, 62-8-2 (39 KOs), back to the ring at age 46.

He last fought in the summer of 2021, losing a welterweight title fight by decision versus Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas.

While Pacquiao for now is locked in on winning a return to the Senate with 11 other countrymen, he has told those close to him of his interest in fighting for a world title once more.

He previously flirted with the idea of meeting Barrios 29-2-1 (18 KOs), of San Antonio, but it didn’t work out. 

Barrios, 29, last fought in November, barely retaining his belt in a draw against Abel Ramos on the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson undercard.

Gibbons said Pacquiao is poised to announce his boxing plans as soon as the election results are finalized.

A long-time matchmaker said, “If he [Pacquiao]’s coming back to fight for a title, this is the exact guy you want to do it against.”

TGB/PBC has requested a hold on the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 19, the Nevada State Athletic Commission should decide on that on April 30.