Retirement seems to have become inconsequential in the sport of boxing. Fighters nowadays hang up their gloves, and the moment a big paycheck is waved in front of them, they run back to the gym. After legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson, most recently, boxing’s only eight-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, is set to make his much-talked-about return to action at 46.

His opponent? WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, as reports confirm, will fight ‘PacMan’ on July 19 in Las Vegas. The fight will see the retired boxer come back to the sport after nearly four years out of professional boxing, as they compete for Barrios’ WBC strap. In the meantime, undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner is unhappy with the chit-chat among fans about Pacquiao’s return.

So, this begs the question: what are the fans saying? After losing to Yordenis Ugas by unanimous decision in his last professional match in 2021 and showing signs of decline against Rukiya Anpo in their July 28 exhibition in Japan last year, many now doubt his abilities and even believe he’ll lose the upcoming matchup badly, given the tough fighting style of the 29-year-old Barrios.

Not to mention, Pacquiao seemed busy with his political career post-retirement, so what made him come back to boxing? As people across the globe raised such concerns, Baumgardner seemed annoyed by the negative chit-chat. “Don’t ever count Manny out tf wrong w yall😭,” she wrote on X, hitting back at the speculators. 

While Baumgardner doesn’t seem to think PacMan can lose or that it poses any threat to his health, others have raised concerns.

Amir Khan warns Manny Pacquiao about boxing comeback

Amir Khan has warned Manny Pacquiao about the risks of returning to the ring to face WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. The 46-year-old Pacquiao’s final decision is expected after the Philippine elections on May 12. Khan, who once trained alongside Barrios, expressed concern: “I don’t know how much Manny’s got left in him… this could be a tricky fight for Pacquiao.”

Highlighting Barrios’ talent and hunger, he added, “Barrios, I’m sure he’s going to come in wanting to win this fight because it can change his life.” While acknowledging the appeal of such a bout, Khan urged caution. “You’re always that one punch away from getting hurt.” He advised Pacquiao to choose a safer option. “You should come back to someone that’s already retired, someone like myself… when you look at a young fighter… sometimes it’s dangerous.”

That said, different people seem to have different opinions on Manny Pacquiao’s return to the ring. While Baumgardner is confident the 46-year-old could beat a 29-year-old Barrios, Khan has given wind to caution. What are your thoughts on the matter?