Former heptathlon world champion Manny ‘Pac Man’ Pacquiao, aged 46, has just challenged WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a match.
Not fighting since August 2021, after losing to WBA Super World Welterweight Champion Yordenis ’54 Milagros’ Ugas, ‘Pac Man’ is looking to get back in the ring.
‘Pac Man’, one of the most loved and followed former champions from the Philippines, is not ready to give up. It would likely be a non-title match, but he’s still waiting to hear from Barrios’ people.
In December 1998, ‘Pac Man’ won his first world title, knocking out WBC world flyweight champion Chachai Sasakul of Thailand, 32-1-1, in the eighth round while trailing on all scores, improving to 24- 1.
After one save ‘Pac Man’ stopped Boonsai Sangsurat 18-0 in eight rounds in Thailand. After winning the WBC International Super Bantam title, making five defenses, he stopped IBF Super Bantam champion Lehlo Ledwaba, 33-1-1, in June 2001.
Moving up to featherweight, he stopped former champion Marco Antonio Barrera, 57-3, earning a split decision title fight with IBF and WBA Feather champion Juan Manuel Marquez, 42-2, in June 2004.
He then lost to Eric Morales, 47-2, for two vacant junior titles. He won the rematch two fights later in a WBC title eliminator. In the third match, he knocked out Morales. He then knocked out Jorge Solis, 34-0-2. He then defeated Barrera in a title fight with WBC World Super Feather champion Marquez, 48-3-1, defeating him.
Then in June 2008, he stopped WBC World Champion David Diaz, 34-1-1. He then stopped former champion Oscar De La Hoya, 39-5. He then won the IBO Super Light title, knocking out Ricky Hutton 45-1.
In November 2009, he stopped WBO light heavyweight champion Miguel Cotto 34-1. Two fights later, he captured the vacant WBC Super Welterweight title, defeating Antonio Margarita, 38-6, in November 2010. He then defeated WBO World Welterweight Champion ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley, 46-6-4-1.
Next up, another bout with Marquez, 53-5-1, winning by majority decision. He then lost a controversial split decision to Tim Bradley, Jr., 28-0. He was then knocked out by Marquez in December 2012. He defeated Bradley in the rematch. He then beat Chris Algiers 20-0. Then, in June 2015, he lost to Super World Light Heavyweight Champion Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, Jr., 47-0. In the third match with Bradley, he won again.
In November 2016, he defeated WBO Welterweight Champion Jesse Vargas 27-1. He then lost a controversial decision to 16-0-1 Jeff Horn in Australia. He then stops WBA welterweight champion Lucas Martin Matthisse, 39-4.
He then defeats Adrian ‘The Problem’ Broner 33-3-1. In July 2019, he defeated Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman 29-0. Two years later he loses to Ugas. His current record is 62-8-2 with 39 shutouts.
Now the 46-year-old ‘Pac Man’ is looking for the title of seven-league world champion.