MANNY Pacquiao just arrived in the US for the supposed announcement of his comeback fight against reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
The 46-year-old boxing legend, who just failed in his bid to regain a seat in the Philippine Senate, came with wife Jinkee and were welcomed by their son Jimuel, who is now based in the US.
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Originally, a presser was scheduled to be held within the week to officially announce Pacquiao coming out of retirement to face the 29-year-old Barrios in a title fight pencilled for July 19 in Las Vegas.
But a top Pacquiao confidante told SPIN.ph no official presser has yet been scheduled.
Pacquiao and his family are likewise in the US to attend his formal induction in the International Boxing Hall of Fame set on June 5-8 in Canastota, New York.
Ironically, both the Pacquiao and Barrios camps haven't officially made an announcement regarding their reported title bout that was first broached by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.
People close to the eighth-time world division champion though, disclosed that Pacquiao will stay on in the US after the Hall of Fame ceremony to continue training for the Barrios fight should it pushes through.
The legendary boxer retired from the ring in 2021 shortly after his failed title bid against Yordenis Ugas for the WBA welterweight belt.
He had a record of 62-8-2 with 39 KOs.
Barrios meanwhile, sports a 29-2-1 record (18 KOs), and first won the interim WBC welterweight crown by scoring a unanimous decision against Ugas.
After successfully retaining the title against Fabian Maidana, the 30-year-old American from San Antonio, Texas. staked the 147lbs championship against Abel Ramos and came out with a close split decision last November.
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