Manny Pacquiao unretiring at 46 to fight Barrios in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS >> Manny Pacquiao is coming out of retirement.

The 46-year-old boxing great is scheduled to face WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on July 19, nearly four years after his last professional fight.

“I’m back,” Pacquiao posted Wednesday on social media.

Pacquiao’s team announced the comeback last week, just hours after he conceded defeat in a bid for another seat in the Philippines Senate.

Pacquiao won 12 titles in a record eight weight classes from flyweight to super welterweight while becoming one of boxing’s biggest draws. He will be enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 8.

Pacquiao previously planned to end his 26-year boxing career in 2021 with a record of 62-8-2 with 39 knockouts.

He had announced his retirement followed a disheartening defeat to Yordenis Ugas.

In what was Pacquiao’s first fight in more than two years, a younger Cuban boxer beat him by unanimous decision to retain the WBA welterweight title.

Pacquiao’s rags-to-riches life story and legendary career brought honor to his Southeast Asian nation, where he is known by the monikers “Pacman” and “People’s Champ.”

Tottenham beats Man United 1-0 for Europa League title and ends long trophy drought

BILBAO, Spain >> Tottenham’s title drought is finally over.

Spurs beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the Europa League final and lift its first European trophy in more than four decades on Wednesday.

It is the first major title for Tottenham since it won the English League Cup in 2008, and first European triumph since it won its second UEFA Cup — the equivalent of the Europa League now — in 1984.

Brennan Johnson squeezed in the winner at the end of the first half to help Spurs salvage a dismal season in which it will finish near the bottom of the Premier League standings.

“This is what it’s all about,” Johnson said. “This club hasn’t won a trophy for 17 years. This is what it means, it means so much. Ever since I came here it’s been, ‘Tottenham are a good team but can never get it done.’ We got it done.”

The title guarantees Spurs a spot in next season’s Champions League, and brings some much-needed relief for manager Ange Postecoglou after he struggled to keep his team on track all year.

The victory in Europe’s second-tier competition comes six years after Tottenham fell short against Liverpool in the Champions League final.

Tour de France final stage will include Montmartre climb, three times

PARIS >> Tour de France riders will climb the Montmartre hill three times during this year’s final stage — a significant break from tradition that will add a dose of suspense and requires heightened security measures.

There was a village atmosphere when massive crowds lined the streets of Montmartre during last year’s Olympics to cheer on riders who climbed narrow cobbled streets in the northern area of Paris.

Tour director Christian Prudhomme said on Wednesday that he wanted to recapture that popular fervor, while offering new race scenarios.

Traditionally, the final stage is largely processional until a sprint decides the day’s winner on the Champs-Elysées. This summer, the final climb up the cobbled Rue Lepic will come less than 7km from the finish, and it’s unlikely many sprinters will still be in the mix for the stage win when the leading group reaches the iconic avenue.

— The Associated Press