Pacquiao Reinstated No.5 WBC Welterweight Ahead July Barrios Title Fight

Manny Pacquiao has been controversially reinstated at No. 5 in the WBC welterweight rankings as he prepares to challenge reigning champion Mario Barrios in July, marking his return to professional boxing after a four-year absence. Despite his age of 46 and recent political endeavors, including an unsuccessful presidential bid in the Philippines, Pacquiao is invoking his right as a former WBC champion to secure an immediate title shot. The fight, expected to take place in Las Vegas, has faced criticism from some boxing analysts who question Pacquiao’s readiness and the fairness of his ranking given his long inactivity and previous performance decline. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman supports the matchup, highlighting Pacquiao's historic status as the only eight-weight world champion and his desire to retire as a WBC champion. This ranking move has displaced other contenders and stirred debate about the sanctioning body's ranking policies. Meanwhile, Pacquiao's political prospects appear dim, but his boxing comeback offers a compelling new chapter in his storied career.