Boxing legend and eight (8) division world champion, Manny Pacman Pacquiao might be returning to the ring this coming June 3 in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. according to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger. Pacquiao is engaged in talks with U.K superstar, Conor Benn for a mega-fight in the welterweight division.
Pacquiao, 44, announced his retirement at 42 to focus on his bid for Presidential candidacy in the 2022 Philippine Elections. Although he wasn’t elected, his time has now been significantly freed. He is negotiating a new deal with MP Promotions to fight the 26-year old U.K superstar.
This might be another challenge for Pacquiao as he doesn’t only face a much younger and much more agile boxer, he is also defying father time since Manny is already way beyond his prime. Conor Benn is also not an easy foe to go against; his record speaks for his dominance in the ring. Conor, nicknamed The Destroyer, currently has an impressive undefeated record of 21 wins and 0 losses with 14 of those wins coming from knockouts (KO).
Benn’s last fight was a non-title bout against South African Boxer Chris van Heerden in which he dominated by winning the fight via 2nd round Technical Knockout (TKO). Aside from that, Pacquiao’s chances are also heavily challenged since his last match before retiring, he lost against Yordenis Ugas in 2021 by virtue of a unanimous decision.
The Filipino pride however has a legendary career record that should be enough to convince us that he might have a chance against the 26-year old phenom if the fight were indeed to come into reality. In Pacman’s over 26 years of boxing experience, he fought for 72 matches in which he tallied 62 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws (62-8-2) where 39 of those wins were knockouts (KO).
Regardless of the result of this possible fight, Pacquiao already has a well decorated career. He is renowned by boxing historians as one of the greatest boxers of the world. He is the only boxer to win twelve (12) major world titles in eight (8) different divisions. Pacquiao also became the oldest welterweight champion in the history of boxing at the age of 40 in July 2019. He also holds the record for being the only boxer to hold world titles in four (4) different decades (1990’s, 2000’s, 2010’s, and 2020’s).
Moreover, most sporting news and boxing websites, including ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Sporting Life, Yahoo! Sports, About.com, BoxRec, and The Ring, rated Pacquiao as the best active boxer in the world, pound for pound, from his rise to lightweight until his losses at welterweight in 2012.
Pacquiao’s potential comeback from retirement might spur mixed reactions from supporters and critics. However, he might treat us by reminding the world his greatness and the mark he carved in the history of boxing once again.