'Rested' Pacquiao relishing July's world welterweight comeback at 46

LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios.

The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat.

Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, said that the glamour of championship boxing had prompted his return.

"I'm returning because I miss my boxing," Pacquiao said at a news conference in Los Angeles. "Especially these situations — being interviewed, news conference, training camp, everything like that.

"I missed that. But it has been good for me — I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back."

Pacquiao said that he had been left devastated following his decision to retire in the wake of his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.

"I always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, 'I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,'" Pacquiao said.

"That moment when I announced hanging up my gloves four years ago — I was so sad. I was crying, I cannot stop the tears coming out my eyes."

Pacquiao, though, revealed that working out at his home in the Philippines persuaded him he still has the fitness and strength to fight.

"I realized when I'm playing basketball, training at the gym of my house — I have complete sport facilities in my house — that I still have that passion. I still have that speed and power," he said.