Manny Pacquiao has announced his retirement after his 2021 defeat to Yordenis Ugas, but the World Boxing Council (WBC) has left the door open for him to return to world championship action. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman expressed his confidence in Pacquiao’s ability to compete with any fighter today, despite Pacquiao being 45 years old and not having boxed since his defeat to Ugas.
In 2009, Ricky Hatton faced a devastating one-punch knockout defeat against Pacquiao, who is a multi-weight world champion. “Manny Pacquiao is timeless. He’s a legend,” Sulaiman told Sky Sports. The WBC welterweight title is currently vacant, and Pacquiao is eyeing a potential championship bout with Mario Barrios. Negotiations for the fight are still ongoing.
Pacquiao won his first world championship, the WBC flyweight title, more than two decades ago and a return to the WBC for a welterweight title fight in 2024 would be sensational. Despite being away from boxing, Pacquiao remains a competitive and formidable fighter.