The night Manny Pacquiao’s weight issues preceded an unexpected first defeat

In July 2025, Pacquiao made an unexpected return to the ring for the first time since 2021. And it was not just any comeback fight.

The then 47-year-old went up against Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title, pushing the defending champion all the way to a draw after a hard-fought contest.

While he has never been officially recorded as missing weight, Pacquiao did come in heavy once early in his career. It happened before his 12th professional bout when he was just 17, ahead of a fight with Rustico Torrecampo.

Because of that, ‘PacMan’ was required to wear heavier gloves than Torrecampo. At the time, Torrecampo had an 11-4-5 record and was considered more of a journeyman than a serious contender.

Even with the weight miss, most people saw this fight as just another step forward for Pacquiao, who was already starting to build some buzz in boxing circles.

Though he started well, it did not take long for him to realise how much experience matters in boxing. He found himself under pressure more than once.

By the end of two rounds of back-and-forth action, Torrecampo landed a big left hook while Pacquiao had his head down. The punch put him down and out almost immediately.

‘PacMan’ struggled to get back on his feet after several seconds, but his legs failed him. The referee then stepped in to stop the fight shortly after.

Manny Pacquiao to fight again in 2026

Even with the draw against Barrios, the Filipino boxer is set to step back into the ring in 2026, aiming to break his own record by becoming a world champion at 47.

While discussions with Floyd Mayweather over a possible title fight are ongoing, there are also rumours that Pacquiao could end up facing Rolly Romero for the WBA welterweight belt.