By the El Reportero staff
The 2025 Boxing Hall of Fame weekend in Canastota will have a unique highlight as Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao—still an active boxer—joins the ranks of inductees. Preparing for his July 19 bout against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, Pacquiao will briefly pause training to attend the ceremony and leave his handprints as a symbol of his legacy.
Though he retired after his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugás, the three-year eligibility window has now opened the doors for his Hall of Fame induction. At 46, Pacquiao remains the only fighter to win world titles in eight weight divisions. His career continues to defy norms, even as he’s honored among boxing’s greats.
Pacquiao will share the stage with fellow inductees Vinny Paz and Michael Nunn. On the women’s side, honorees include Yessica Chávez, Anne Sophie Mathis, Mary Jo Sanders, and Cathy Davis. Other recognitions go to figures outside the ring: referee Kenny Bayless, cutman Al Gavin, referee Harry Gibbs, journalist Randy Gordon, and TV producer Ross Greenburg. Rodrigo Valdez and Owen Swift will be honored posthumously.
This weekend marks a celebration of both legacy and ongoing ambition. Seeing Pacquiao, Paz, and Nunn together symbolizes different eras of greatness. As Canastota becomes, once again, boxing’s center stage, fans look ahead: Can Pacquiao triumph in his return, or will history repeat itself, as it did for Sugar Ray Leonard, who lost to Héctor Camacho after his own post-induction comeback?
So far, Pacquiao appears to be in peak form. His speed, conditioning, and drive seem undiminished. July 19 will test that readiness. But this weekend belongs to recognition, celebration, and reflection—on a career filled with unforgettable nights, global triumphs, and a fighter who united nations through the power of his fists.
Pacquiao’s story isn’t finished just yet. His presence in Canastota is more than symbolic—it’s a reminder that greatness doesn’t always end with retirement. Fans around the world will watch closely as a living legend takes his place in history, while still daring to chase one more victory in the ring.
