Even at 46 years old, Manny Pacquiao looked spry in his comeback fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
At 46 years old, Manny Pacquiao stepped back into the ring hoping to make history—and while he didn’t reclaim a world title, he walked away proud of what he represented.
In his much-anticipated comeback fight, Pacquiao fought WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a majority draw on Sunday (PH time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
One judge had it 115-113 for Barrios, while the other two scored it even at 114-114, allowing Barrios to retain his belt.
Still, Pacquiao embraced the moment, saying his performance proved that age is just a number when matched with hard work and faith.
“I think it’s an inspiration to [older] boxers,” Pacquiao said. “When you have discipline and hard work, you can still fight.”
Pacquiao pushed the pace throughout the bout, often finishing rounds with his trademark flurries.
Barrios, however, kept composed, landing sharp jabs and choosing his shots wisely. The result marked Pacquiao’s first draw in two decades, or since his 2004 clash with Juan Manuel Marquez.
A win would have made Pacquiao the second-oldest boxing world champion in history. He remains the fifth-oldest titleholder ever, thanks to his 2019 victory over Keith Thurman at age 40.
“Hard work and discipline. I have to keep my body in shape always,” he said. “I’m so thankful to God, because without Him, Manny Pacquiao is not here.”
Despite only having two months of training due to the Philippine elections where he sought another seat in the Senate, Pacquiao said he was proud to have represented his country once again on the global stage.
“I love the Filipino people and give honor to my country. That’s the only legacy I can leave behind—to give inspiration to the Filipino people.”
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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.]