Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios battled to a majority draw in their WBC welterweight title fight—a first for the Filipino boxing legend since his unforgettable 2004 showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight didn’t end in victory, but it was far from a defeat.
Pacquiao and Mario Barrios fought to a majority draw in their WBC welterweight title bout on Sunday (PH time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, with judges scoring it 115-113 for Barrios and 114-114 on the other two scorecards.
[RELATED: Pacquiao-Barrios ends in majority draw; Barrios retains WBC welterweight crown]
As a result, Barrios retained his title, while Pacquiao came up short in his bid to become a world champion once again at age 46.
The Filipino legend, returning to the ring for the first time since 2021, appeared to be the more active fighter, often finishing rounds with flurries of combinations that thrilled the pro-Pacquiao crowd.
Barrios, however, stayed composed and picked his spots well, using his jab to keep Pacquiao at bay and landing timely counters throughout the 12-round clash.
“I thought I won the fight,” said Pacquiao, now with a record of 62-8-3 (39 KOs). “It was a close fight, my opponent is very tough. Barrios is a wonderful fighter.”
The draw marked Pacquiao’s first since his epic 2004 battle with Juan Manuel Marquez. It also marks the first time in more than a decade that he’s gone two straight fights without a win, following his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugas.
For Barrios, now 41-2-2 (30 KOs), it was another tough challenge. The defending champion recorded his second consecutive draw, following a split decision stalemate against Abel Ramos in 2024.
“It’s crazy. His stamina, he could still crack,” Barrios said of Pacquiao. “He’s still strong and with his timing and rhythm, he’s still an awkward fighter to figure out. He still has some good legs, a lot left in the tank.”
While the result leaves questions about Pacquiao’s next move, it proved the Filipino boxing icon can still hang with elite competition — even almost three decades after first becoming a world champion.
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]