Manny Pacquiao is rumored to be in talks for a return to the ring, though fans wonder if he will be able to perform at all like he did on one legendary night.
Manny Pacquiao retired after a loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021, but is rumored to be in talks to return against Mario Barrios, a 29-2-1 fighter who handed Ugas his latest defeat.
Pacquiao is now 46 years old, and could even be 47 by the time the fight is made, if it happens at all, leaving some concerned for his health, and wary that Pac-Man’s best performances, including the vicious dispatching of a living legend, are very far behind him at this stage.
Manny Pacquiao brutally knocked out Ricky Hatton 16 years ago today
In 2009, Pacquiao took on Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton for his IBO super-lightweight title.
The fight was a short affair, with Pacquiao demonstrating his ability by dropping Hatton in the very first round.
Hatton picked himself up and continued in the war of two pound-for-pound greats until, in the second round, Pacquiao landed a thundering right hook, sending Hatton crumpling to the canvas face-first.
According to BoxRec, Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said of the fight: “The fight was no surprise to me. We know he always pumps his hands before he throws a punch. He’s a sucker for the right hook.”
Pacquiao, who defeated Adrien Broner later, himself said of the fight: “I didn’t think it would be so easy, but I worked hard since the beginning of March in training camp. He was open for the right hook. I knew he’d be looking for the left. This was nothing personal. I was just doing my job.”
Manny Pacquiao’s final fight was supposed to be against Floyd Mayweather’s toughest sparring partner
In 2021 Pacquiao lost to Ugas via unanimous decision, though it was never meant to be Ugas facing the Filipino legend.
Instead, Errol Spence, who beat Floyd Mayweather in sparring after a verbal altercation led to a doghouse war, was the scheduled opponent, but was forced to withdraw due to a detached retina.
Spence defeated Ugas to claim his revenge for the missed opportunity.