So it’s a done deal. After months of speculation – will he or will he not? – Manny Pacquiao, the legend, has decided to take the plunge. Four years after his last fight, the one against Yordenis Ugas, the boxing great has decided to step into the ring. And for his comeback, he will straightaway face a champion. On July 19, the PacMan will try to dethrone reigning welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas.

Across several corners, it remained a murmured discussion. After all, Pacquiao went on brief spells of retirement previously. The face-off with Ugas followed a two-year break after he secured his last title victory over Keith Thurman. But in this age of dramatic returns, where even a 58-year-old former heavyweight champion fought a YouTuber-turned-boxer 30 years his junior, anything is possible. Now one might expect the entire boxing fandom to rise up and bow, welcoming one of the sport’s bona fide greats. And rightfully so. What hasn’t the only 8-division world champion achieved? But that doesn’t seem to be the case. As it happened in Tyson’s case, there are a few reservations about Pacquiao’s return as well, it seems.

Manny Pacquiao: The legend finally returns!

“According to ESPN, #MannyPacquiao ends his four-year retirement to fight #MarioBarrios for the WBC welterweight title on July 19 in Las Vegas. Who y’all got winning? 👇👀🥊,” sharing the information @worldstar dropped a teaser in the Instagram post. To diehard Pacquiao fans, it must be music to their ears. After a long hiatus, their icon is finally returning. But many fans and pundits alike are left wondering. In terms of legacy and record, there’s hardly anything that Pacquiao hasn’t achieved in the sport. So what’s the need to come back and fight a titleholder sixteen years younger?

So could it be monetary pressure that forced the legend to come out of retirement? As of now, no one knows. On social media, clips of Pacquiao’s exhibition fights have been gaining traction. Many don’t seem happy with what they saw. In a highly physical and demanding sport like boxing, time and age do exact a price.

Let’s check how a few followers reacted to the post.

But is it really required? Fans ask

First, a reality check from this fan who said, “Love Pac, but he’s gotta know when to hang them up.” Although applicable for all the disciplines, perhaps in no other sport does the saying stand truer than in boxing. To come out of the sport in good health and with a decent stack of cash is one thing. But only to return and risk losing it all?

Another fan said what many have been expressing vociferously. “Pac, you ain’t got nothing to prove. Retire and enjoy your life with your family!” they said. Pound-for-pound great, title wins across eight divisions, a record yet to be matched, Hall of Fame, and a PPV star – there’s hardly any box the Filipino icon hasn’t ticked.

A stinging comparison followed: “Barrios Gon do That Boy Like Jake Paul did Tyson 😂😂😂😂.” The analogy might sound crass to a few. But one shouldn’t ignore the underlying context. A pale shadow of what he used to be, Mike Tyson could barely move against his much younger opponent, who eventually bagged a unanimous victory, only to claim later that he went ‘easy’ on the boxing great.

But then a few diehards still remain hopeful of a miracle. Like this follower said, “Mario is getting knocked out lol.” Whether it’s a taunt or not is anyone’s guess. But at this stage, given the few examples where retired fighters staged a comeback, it appears far-fetched. Barrios is not a finisher. But definitely not a pushover either.

There was another interesting take. This user said, “Coming back to show runners how it’s done.” Given how last weekend’s first two events turned out, which saw fans slamming fighters like Devon Haney, William Scull for being too evasive and avoiding head-on collisions, perhaps, like Naoya Inoue, Manny Pacquiao could also teach how fights should happen.

Despite the unusual spins, one cannot hide the fact that most of the fans are genuinely concerned about such a dramatic re-emergence.

Perhaps Manny Pacquiao knows best. A lifelong practitioner of the art, life out of the ring just proved too much for him. As far as boxing goes, he has nothing to prove. Win or lose, maybe after the July fight, he will sit and deliberate whether a renewed sojourn in boxing suits him.

What’s your take on PacMan’s title fight against Barrios?