The WBC has endorsed Manny Pacquiao’s return to the boxing ring to fight for a welterweight world title. Despite being 45 years old and not having fought since his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugas, Pacquiao is being encouraged by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman to compete for a world championship once again. Pacquiao previously announced his retirement after his bout with Ugas.
During an interview with Sky Sports, Sulaiman expressed his admiration for Pacquiao as a legendary fighter and stated that former champions like him have the opportunity to return to championship contention provided they pass medical exams. Sulaiman suggested that Pacquiao is capable of being competitive with any fighter and that his comeback would be celebrated within the sport.
The WBC welterweight title is currently vacant, and Pacquiao is eyeing a potential championship fight against Mario Barrios. Negotiations for the bout are ongoing, and Pacquiao remains optimistic about the possibility of facing Barrios in the ring. Sulaiman believes that Pacquiao’s return to action could be historical, given his accomplishments in different weight divisions throughout his career. The WBC president welcomes the idea of Pacquiao making a comeback to the organization after more than two decades since winning his first title in 1998.