If Manny Pacquiao needed reminding that his incredible boxing career belongs in the past, his many achievements will be celebrated when he is inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Sunday in Canastota, New York.
Most IBHOF inductees arrive for the ceremonial event with their boxing careers firmly in the rearview mirror. But not Pacquiao.
With his best years undeniably long behind, the 46-year-old will reappear in a boxing ring after nearly four years out when he takes on Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on July 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The boxing world had assumed Pacquiao’s brilliant career had run its course, only for him to announce he is coming back to make “history.” “Pac Man” already has his own chapter in boxing history by winning championships in an unmatched eight boxing divisions, but with a victory against Barrios, Pacquiao would become the first fighter to win a world title as a Hall of Famer.
He is also attempting to break his own record as boxing’s oldest 147-pound world champion (40 years, 215 days). Only two boxers, heavyweight George Foreman and light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins, have won world title fights at the age of 46 or older.
But Pacquiao will not be alone in entering the Hall. Here’s a look at each 2025 inductee in the Modern category — and what makes them special.
Manny Pacquiao Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) began his career at 16 years of age amid poverty in the Philippines. Pacquiao staggeringly won his first world title at just 18 at flyweight (112 pounds) in 1998. By 2010, Pacquiao had conquered his eighth weight division with a junior middleweight (154 pounds) title.
His career took off when he moved to Los Angeles to work with trainer Freddie Roach, who he has reunited with to prepare for Barrios next month. With Roach in his corner, Pacquiao beat a long list of boxing Hall of Famers: Marco Antonio Barrera, Timothy Bradley Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Erik Morales and Miguel Cotto. His decision loss to Floyd Mayweather — another Hall of Famer — in 2015 generated 4,600,000 pay-per-view buys, more than $400 millions in revenue. The fight also amassed more than $70 million in ticket sales.
His all-attack, buzzsaw style made Pacquiao a popular, must-see boxer. There were great rivalries throughout his career with Mexican fighters Morales (2-1) and Marquez (2-1-1), and for many years he was regarded as boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter, ahead of Mayweather.
Some of Pacquiao’s best performances and spectacular KO wins included those against Morales, Hatton, Barrera, Cotto and David Diaz. He rebounded from a crushing knockout defeat to Marquez in their fourth fight in 2012 to enjoy a late flourish in his career with wins over Keith Thurman and Adrien Broner in 2019.
What separated Pacquiao from the rest during his career were his hand speed, footwork, movement and punch output, all of which were in decline after the Filipino turned 40. In his last fight, Pacquiao lost a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas (a late replacement for Errol Spence Jr.) in August 2021. He has recently been busy with another career as a senator in his native Philippines.
Pacquiao is ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s top 10 men’s boxers of the 21st century, behind only Mayweather. The 5-foot-5 Pacquiao consistently beat men who were bigger than him throughout his career and referenced previous Filipino boxers as an inspiration as his induction to the IBHOF approaches.
“I am deeply honored to join my fellow countrymen — Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde [junior lightweight champion 1960-67], Francisco Villaruel Guilledo [more widely known as Pancho Villa, flyweight champion 1923-25] and legendary promoter Lope ‘Papa’ Sarreal — in the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame,” Pacquiao told ESPN.
“I stand on the shoulders of these icons and of other Filipino boxing heroes who paved the way before me, including Ceferino Garcia [world middleweight champion 1939-40], Eleuterio ‘Little Dado’ Zapanta [bantamweight champion 1940, flyweight champion 1938-43] and Erbito Salavarria [WBC flyweight champion 1970-71, WBA flyweight champion 1975-76].
“Their courage, talent and legacy continue to inspire generations. I look forward to the day when even more Filipino fighters earn their place among boxing’s elite — champions who carry forward the proud tradition of our nation and bring honor to the Philippines and Filipinos around the world.”
