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Manny Pacquiao’s comeback attempt fell just short of reclaiming championship glory on Saturday night, as his bout with Mario Barrios ended in a majority draw, allowing Barrios to retain his WBC welterweight title.
The judges scored the fight 114-114, 114-114, and 115-113 in favor of Barrios.
Pacquiao, 46, showed flashes of his vintage form early in the contest, drawing loud cheers with each punch landed in the opening round. The boxing legend captivated the crowd, proving he still commands attention inside the ring. Even Barrios appeared to admire Pacquiao’s performance in the early going.
Despite the strong start, Pacquiao faced challenges as the fight wore on. Barrios used his height and reach advantage effectively, particularly with the jab, which helped to disrupt Pacquiao’s rhythm and halt his forward momentum.
As the bout moved into the middle rounds, Barrios grew more comfortable and began letting his hands go with greater frequency, while Pacquiao’s punches appeared to lack the impact they once had. The contrasting styles led to varied opinions on the scorecards—some favoring Pacquiao’s flurries, others leaning toward Barrios’ tactical precision.
The crowd played a significant role in the fight’s energy, often erupting at any sign of success from Pacquiao, while Barrios had to work harder to elicit similar reactions.
Barrios’ more cautious approach in the later rounds drew criticism, as he failed to capitalize on opportunities against the aging former champion. Still, his measured strategy was enough to prevent Pacquiao from pulling off a historic victory.
A win would have made Pacquiao the oldest WBC champion ever, breaking his own record set at age 40. Saturday’s fight marked his return to the ring after nearly four years away, following a 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugas.
“Those four years that I was retired, I really missed boxing,” Pacquiao said ahead of the fight, via MMA Fighting. “It was good for my body because I was able to give it rest. … Now I’m back. I’m excited. I’m hungry to win again and give the fans a good fight.”
Already a certified Hall of Famer with a legendary résumé, Pacquiao has hinted that he may not be done yet. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said, “I think I have two or three more fights left. I could do this for another couple of years. But I’m just taking it one at a time.”
With the outcome leaving plenty of room for debate, a rematch between Pacquiao and Barrios could be on the horizon—and given his performance, few would count the Filipino icon out of making one more historic run.
- Hector Pascua/picture: Manny Pacquiao is determined to beat Mario Barrios in title fight – Los Angeles Times
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