Latest news with #YordenisUgas
The Sun
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Manny Pacquiao, 46, looks to become boxing's oldest ever champion as legend says ‘I have two or three fights left'
MANNY PACQUIAO is looking to become boxing's oldest ever champion, declaring: 'I still have two or three fights left.' Pacquiao won 62 of his 72 professional bouts and remains the only eight-division world champion in boxing history. 2 In 2019 he set new records as the oldest welterweight champion ever aged 40. Pacquiao retired two years later as he lost his WBA title to Yordenis Ugas. But next month he is stepping out of retirement to take on Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship aged 46. Winning it would make him the second-oldest champ in any division, three years behind Bernard Hopkins. But Pacquiao is looking to set the record himself by insisting he still has several fights left — taking him to the ripe old age of 50. Speaking at a media workout today, he declared: 'I think I have two or three more fights left. 'I feel like I could do this for a couple of years. But I'm just taking it one at a time. 'My goal is to be the oldest champion and retire as a champion. This fight is very important to me because it's history. 'I believe I'd be the first Hall of Famer to win another world title, and I'd also break my own record as the oldest welterweight world champion.' After retiring in 2021, Pacquiao had three exhibition bouts. Fans shocked by size difference as Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios face off ahead of legend's return aged 46 in Vegas 2 But he admits he missed the feel of a proper slog, leading him to perform a U-turn. He added: 'When I retired in 2021, it wasn't a good feeling because I had it in my heart and my mind that I can still fight. 'I've always known that I could still work hard and dedicate myself and focus on training. I've rested and now I'm back. 'I feel fast and I feel like the strength is still there. I can still do what I've done before in training. 'If anything, my team right now is trying to slow me down and making sure I get enough rest. I still want to push myself every day, but I know that I have to listen to my team. 'Boxing is my passion. I've missed the sport. These last four years have been good for my body, because I've been doing this a long time. I feel like my passion and fire is back and you can see it in my work.'
The Sun
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Manny Pacquiao could not stop crying after announcing retirement as legend, 46, prepares for controversial comeback
MANNY PACQUIAO could not stop crying after failing to cope with being a retired boxer. The Filipino great hung up his gloves in August 2021 following defeat to Yordenis Ugas. 3 But after a failed presidential campaign in the Philippines and a couple of exhibition bouts - Pacquiao is returning. And PacMan - who won honours in EIGHT divisions - opened up on his emotional struggles after retiring from the sport. He said: "That moment when I announced I was hanging up my gloves four years ago, I was so sad. "I couldn't avoid the tears coming out of my eyes. I really missed boxing. "For however many months, I was like, I'm not a boxer anymore?'" Pacquiao was beaten in the 2022 presidential election and then failed in a bid for a second run as a senator this year. So he is now fully focusing on boxing after juggling pugilism with politics throughout his career and retirement. Pacquiao said: "Right now, the book of politics is closed. It's not even in my mind. I'm focusing on my career as a boxer again. "I can still do my job in boxing. I'm not done yet. The fire, the determination, the eagerness to train and work hard, it's still there. It's amazing." Pacquiao faced Korean YouTuber DK Yoo in a 2022 exhibition in the first sign he was making a comeback. Fans shocked by size difference as Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios face off ahead of legend's return aged 46 in Vegas He then returned last July for another exhibition, against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in Tokyo. And despite not winning since 2019 - SIX YEARS AGO - talks were ongoing behind the scenes for a world title shot. Before long, it was announced that Pacquiao, at 46, will challenge for Mario Barrios' WBC welterweight title. Per WBC rules, a contender must be ranked within their top 15 in order to be eligible for a championship bout. So it came as little surprise when Pacquiao sneaked back into the WBC's top five in mid May - despite his absence from the ring. 3 Boxing's oldest world champ of all time is Bernard Hopkins, who won a world title aged 49. And Pacquiao said: 'It would mean a lot for me to become world champion again. "Manny Pacquiao is always giving surprises to the fans. That's my passion and it's really important to me. "I want everyone to be happy with this fight. My goal is to leave a legacy to the boxing fans. "I want to inspire the young generation who are dreaming of becoming a champion. 'July 19 is gonna be a lot of action. There's a lot of great fights on this card. "I know what Barrios is capable of and I know that we can entertain the fans." 3
Asharq Al-Awsat
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
‘Rested' Pacquiao Relishing Boxing Comeback at 46
Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, told reporters on Tuesday that the glamour of championship boxing had prompted his return. "I'm returning because I miss my boxing," Pacquiao said at a press conference in Los Angeles. "Especially these situations -- being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. "I missed that. But it has been good for me -- I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back." Pacquiao said that he had been left devastated following his decision to retire in the wake of his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. "I always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, 'I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,'" Pacquiao said. "That moment when I announced hanging up my gloves four years ago -- I was so sad. I was crying, I cannot stop the tears coming out my eyes." Pacquiao, though, revealed that working out at his home in the Philippines persuaded him he still had the fitness and strength to fight. "I realized when I'm playing basketball, training at the gym my house -- I have complete sport facilities in my house -- that I still have that passion. I still have that speed and power," he said. - 'Low-risk' comeback - Some in boxing have expressed concerns about whether Pacquiao's comeback against Barrios, who is 16 years his junior, represents a risk to the Filipino's safety. Addressing those concerns, Pacquiao noted that his family and loved ones were firmly behind his comeback. "I'm thankful for them for their concern," Pacquiao told AFP. "But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style." Pacquiao, who has reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's fight, is able to challenge immediately for a title due to a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a title fight when coming out of retirement. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told AFP on Tuesday that Pacquiao had been cleared to return to the ring by the Nevada Athletic Commission after undergoing medical exams, describing the fighter's comeback as "low risk". "Manny Pacquiao is at no higher risk than any fighter going into the ring," Sulaiman said. "Manny has rested his body for four years. He's not a drinker. He's not a drug user. He's a family man that has taken care of himself. So of the different aspects of dangers, he's at the lowest risk." Pacquiao's opponent, Barrios, said he would set aside the Filipino's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era. "There's nothing but good things to say about him outside the ring," Barrios said of Pacquiao. "He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed. "And I know if at any point he has me hurt, you know he's going to get me out of there. So I just have to go in there and make sure that my hand is raised at the end of the fight."
Japan Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
'Rested' Pacquiao relishing boxing comeback at 46
Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, told reporters on Tuesday that the glamor of championship boxing had prompted his return. "I'm returning because I miss my boxing," Pacquiao said at a press conference in Los Angeles. "Especially these situations — being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. "I missed that. But it has been good for me — I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back." Pacquiao said that he had been left devastated following his decision to retire in the wake of his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. "I always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, 'I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,'" Pacquiao said. "That moment when I announced hanging up my gloves four years ago — I was so sad. I was crying, I cannot stop the tears coming out my eyes." Pacquiao, though, revealed that working out at his home in the Philippines persuaded him he still had the fitness and strength to fight. "I realized when I'm playing basketball, training at the gym (at) my house — I have complete sport facilities in my house — that I still have that passion. I still have that speed and power," he said. 'Low-risk' comeback Some in boxing have expressed concerns about whether Pacquiao's comeback against Barrios, who is 16 years his junior, represents a risk to the Filipino's safety. Addressing those concerns, Pacquiao noted that his family and loved ones were firmly behind his comeback. "I'm thankful for them for their concern," Pacquiao said. "But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style." Pacquiao, who has reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's fight, is able to challenge immediately for a title due to a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a title fight when coming out of retirement. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said on Tuesday that Pacquiao had been cleared to return to the ring by the Nevada Athletic Commission after undergoing medical exams, describing the fighter's comeback as "low risk." "Manny Pacquiao is at no higher risk than any fighter going into the ring," Sulaiman said. "Manny has rested his body for four years. He's not a drinker. He's not a drug user. He's a family man that has taken care of himself. So of the different aspects of dangers, he's at the lowest risk." Pacquiao's opponent, Barrios, said he would set aside the Filipino's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era. "There's nothing but good things to say about him outside the ring," Barrios said of Pacquiao. "He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed. "And I know if at any point he has me hurt, you know he's going to get me out of there. So I just have to go in there and make sure that my hand is raised at the end of the fight."
Malay Mail
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
‘Rested' Pacquiao relishing boxing comeback at 46
LOS ANGELES, June 4 — Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, told reporters on Tuesday that the glamour of championship boxing had prompted his return. 'I'm returning because I miss my boxing,' Pacquiao said at a press conference in Los Angeles. 'Especially these situations — being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. 'I missed that. But it has been good for me — I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back.' Pacquiao said that he had been left devastated following his decision to retire in the wake of his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. 'I always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, 'I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,'' Pacquiao said. 'That moment when I announced hanging up my gloves four years ago — I was so sad. I was crying, I cannot stop the tears coming out my eyes.' Pacquiao, though, revealed that working out at his home in the Philippines persuaded him he still had the fitness and strength to fight. 'I realized when I'm playing basketball, training at the gym my house — I have complete sport facilities in my house — that I still have that passion. I still have that speed and power,' he said. 'Low-risk' comeback Some in boxing have expressed concerns about whether Pacquiao's comeback against Barrios, who is 16 years his junior, represents a risk to the Filipino's safety. Addressing those concerns, Pacquiao noted that his family and loved ones were firmly behind his comeback. 'I'm thankful for them for their concern,' Pacquiao told AFP. 'But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style.' Pacquiao, who has reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's fight, is able to challenge immediately for a title due to a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a title fight when coming out of retirement. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told AFP on Tuesday that Pacquiao had been cleared to return to the ring by the Nevada Athletic Commission after undergoing medical exams, describing the fighter's comeback as 'low risk'. 'Manny Pacquiao is at no higher risk than any fighter going into the ring,' Sulaiman said. 'Manny has rested his body for four years. He's not a drinker. He's not a drug user. He's a family man that has taken care of himself. So of the different aspects of dangers, he's at the lowest risk.' Pacquiao's opponent, Barrios, said he would set aside the Filipino's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era. 'There's nothing but good things to say about him outside the ring,' Barrios said of Pacquiao. 'He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed. 'And I know if at any point he has me hurt, you know he's going to get me out of there. So I just have to go in there and make sure that my hand is raised at the end of the fight.' — AFP
