Philippines, 27 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PACQUIAO AT L.A. PRESSCON: "I'M BACK!"


PhilBoxing.com





In the heart of downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), the buzz was undeniable. Fans, media, and boxing insiders filled the NOVO at LA Live on Thursday, all eyes on the stage where two very different men—separated by age, era, and experience—stood face-to-face for the first time.

Manny Pacquiao, the beloved global icon and only eight-division world champion in boxing history, is making a return no one quite expected—but many had hoped for. At 46, with perhaps his political career behind him and a legacy already secured, Pacquiao arrived at the press conference not as a fading legend chasing one last payday, but as a man fueled once again by the fire that made him great.

“I’m back,” he said with a boyish grin, his voice calm but firm. It wasn’t boastful. It was heartfelt—more declaration than announcement. Pacquiao spoke not just of a fight, but of a personal revival, a homecoming of the heart. “This is more than just boxing,” he added. “It’s something I love deeply.”

If the press room expected signs of age or hesitation, they found none. The Filipino superstar was lean, relaxed, and clearly energized. He acknowledged the obvious—Mario Barrios is younger, taller, and stronger—but he dismissed the idea that it was new territory. “I’ve seen this before,” he smiled, evoking memories of past giants he toppled—Antonio Margarito, Oscar De La Hoya, and others who underestimated the storm behind his speed and angles.

Barrios, just 30, stood beside him—composed, respectful, and utterly focused. Wearing the confidence of a champion but carrying the humility of a fighter who understands the moment, Barrios made it clear: he’s not here to play a role in someone else’s narrative.

“I respect what Manny has done. He’s a legend,” Barrios said, his voice steady. “But I’ve worked hard for this belt. I’ve earned this moment. And I plan to keep it.”

Despite their obvious differences, there was a quiet respect that passed between them—a shared understanding of what it takes to lace up the gloves at this level, to face the pressure, the pain, the stakes. Barrios didn’t talk trash. He didn’t need to. His conviction was evident. And Pacquiao, in turn, didn’t make grand promises. His presence alone was enough.

The two fighters posed for photos, and the crowd took note of the size gap. Barrios, several inches taller and visibly broader, looked like the naturally bigger man. Social media would later light up with reactions, many marveling at Pacquiao’s audacity to take such a challenge at this stage. But if Pacquiao was fazed, he didn’t show it. “The ring is the same size for both of us,” he said with a shrug.

Adding even more heat to the July 19 card at the MGM Grand, the undercard was spotlighted during the conference and drew nearly as much excitement.

Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu will run it back in a much-anticipated rematch for the unified junior middleweight championship—an all-action sequel to their blood-and-guts thriller earlier this year. Fans still recall the moment a deep cut derailed Tszyu’s chances, and this time, both men promise closure.

Then there’s Brandon Figueroa vs. Joet Gonzalez—two warriors with fan-favorite styles that almost guarantee a war—and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz taking on Jose Valenzuela in a lightweight banger with real title implications.

As the press conference wrapped up and the fighters left the stage, Pacquiao didn’t linger in the spotlight. There were no late-night dinners or media parties. He headed straight to the Wild Card Gym—the same battleground where Freddie Roach molded his meteoric rise more than two decades ago. There, surrounded by his tight-knit team, Pacquiao began sparring—a reminder that while the world may see this as a comeback story, to him, it’s just another chapter in a book that isn’t finished yet.

The L.A. press conference was more than hype. It was a meeting of two men standing at different crossroads: one looking to recapture magic, the other eager to forge his own legacy by toppling a titan.

July 19 won’t just be about punches and titles. It will be about time, legacy, and that intangible spirit that keeps great fighters coming back for more—not because they have to, but because it’s who they are.

And in Los Angeles, that story came to life.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Guro Dan Inosanto: Guardian of the Filipino Fighting Spirit
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Christian Mbilili vs. Maciej Sulecki
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Unbeaten Philippines Top Prospect Criztian Pitt Laurente Signs with Sanman Boxing
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS PROMISING AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT SARDIUS SIMMONS
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Madoka Wada Halts Chay Rivas in Tokyo, Retains OPBF Belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Grand Prix a Grand Concept
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • PHOTOS: Pacquiao Showcases Vintage Form During Media Day Workout at Wildcard Gym
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Christian Mbilli & Maciej Sulecki Collide for Interim Super Middleweight World Title FRIDAY in Quebec City
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Rivas vs Wada: Battle for Women’s OPBF Supremacy Today in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Mexican boxing icon Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez Respects Cuban fighters & rivalry
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Claressa Shields Partners with King Moore to Empower Detroit Youth with the “Follow Your Dreams” Program Presented by SMT Financial Partners
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Saturday’s title defense vs. Yuniel Dorticos could be prelude to mega-fight for Gilberto Ramirez against Jake Paul or Unification showdown with Jay Opetaia or Badou Jack
    , Wed, 25 Jun 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 June 2025: Norman Flattens Sasaki; Simsri Edges Araneta; Rodriguez Outpoints Yafai
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • FM Daluz rules 7th AQ Prime FIDE Standard Open chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Ancajas awaits call to join card
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Macado fights Dulayba in Venue 88
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • “Showtime” Shea Willcox & Rich Allen turned in KO Performances
    , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Marco Romero To be showcased on Deontay Wilder PPV card this Friday night in Wichita
    , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Toro Promotions. Inc. to promote its First International pro boxing show in El Salvador on September 20th
    , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • Oklahoma Completes Dream Season; Whips Indiana in Game 7, 103-91 for First NBA Title in Thunder Era
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Japanese Boxer Jin Sasaki Suffers Memory Loss Following Brutal Knockout in WBO Title Fight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Toshihiko Era Becomes WBF Asia Champion at Age 50
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Ador Torres, Renato Cha, Lemuel De Barbo and Ivan Ognayon Score KO Wins in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Concludes with Junior, Youth and Elite Championships
    , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Second Stage of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix Concludes with Great Success: Heavyweight and Featherweight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 22 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.