Manny Pacquiao could be set to make history in 2025 when he remarkably returns to fight for a world title.
Reported to be taking on Mario Barrios for the WBC World Welterweight title in July 2025, Pacquiao would enter the bout at the age of 46.
Should Pacquiao pull off the feat, he will be older than George Foreman was when he became the oldest heavyweight world champion. However, winning world titles has not been a problem for former eight-division champion Pacquiao.
In 2008, Pacquiao won a world title in style with one of his greatest performances.
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Manny Pacquiao defeated David Diaz via TKO in 2008
After defeating rival Juan Manuel Marquez via split decision in March 2008, Pacquiao became the WBC World Super Featherweight champion. However, he was seemingly not interested in defending the title.
Three months after the win, Pacquiao would move up in weight classes again, to lightweight.
Seeking a world title in a fourth weight class, Pacquiao challenged WBC champion David Diaz in Las Vegas.
Diaz was looking to make his second defense of the belt, having fended off a challenge from Erik Morales in 2007. Going into the bout with Pacquiao, the American had a record of 34-1-1.
However, the champion would fall to the second defeat in his career thanks to a fantastic showing from Pacquiao. Winning all eight rounds on the judges’ scorecards, Pacquiao would be able to close the show in round nine.
From early on in the fight, damage was beginning to show on the face of the champion, with significant bleeding from the nose and eye of Diaz. In round nine, Diaz received several blows from Pacquiao before eventually going down thanks to a left hand from ‘Pac-Man’.
The inch-perfect straight shot from Pacquiao sent Diaz face-down to the canvas, with the referee waving off the bout.
In his next bout, Pacquiao would not defend his new title, but face a legend instead.
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Manny Pacquiao followed David Diaz win with Oscar De La Hoya stoppage
Despite having such an impressive showing against Diaz, Pacquiao’s next fight would not be for a world title. Instead, he would take on fellow legend Oscar De La Hoya.
Although De La Hoya was warned about facing Pacquiao, the two accepted the bout and faced one another in December 2008, in Las Vegas. The two greats competed in a non-title welterweight fight.
In the huge headline bout, Pacquiao would be able to make it consecutive dominant performances. After leading the fight after eight rounds, De La Hoya would lose via retirement.
The match with Pacquiao was De La Hoya’s final professional fight.