Pacquiao’s Bid for Historic Welterweight Title Falls Short
Twenty-four years after announcing himself to American boxing fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Manny Pacquiao returned to the iconic venue on Saturday night, hoping to set a new record as the oldest welterweight world champion in history. But the Filipino legend, now 46, was left with unfinished business, as his comeback bout against WBC titleholder Mario Barrios ended in a majority draw.
Fight Recap
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Scores: The judges tallied the closely contested fight 114-114, 114-114, and 115-113 in favor of Barrios, allowing the American to retain his WBC welterweight belt.
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Crowd Reaction: The result left a packed arena of Pacquiao supporters disappointed, with many feeling the eight-division world champion’s spirited performance had edged the contest.
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Fight Flow: Pacquiao started strong, displaying flashes of his signature speed and aggression. In the early rounds, he repeatedly found openings with his left hand and combinations, energizing his fans14.
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Turning Tide: As the fight wore on, signs of fatigue began to show. Barrios, 16 years Pacquiao’s junior, took advantage in the later rounds, notably winning all three final rounds on every judge’s card, which proved decisive in the scoring.
Key Statistics
| Manny Pacquiao | Mario Barrios | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 46 | 30 |
| Total Punches | 101/577 (17.5%) | 120/658 (18.2%) |
| Power Punches | 81 | 75 |
| Professional Record | 62–8–3 (39 KOs) | 29–2–2 (18 KOs) |
Pacquiao actually outlanded Barrios in power shots (81 to 75), while Barrios held a slight edge in total punches and jabs.
Post-Fight Reactions
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Pacquiao:
“I thought I won the fight. It was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. Of course I’d like a rematch. I want to leave a legacy and make the Filipino people proud,” Pacquiao said afterwards. He also cited a late training start due to the Philippine elections as a factor in his preparation. -
Barrios:
“His stamina is crazy. He’s still strong as hell and his timing is real. He’s a very awkward fighter to figure out. I’ll do the rematch, absolutely,” Barrios responded, expressing respect for his legendary opponent.
What’s Next
With neither fighter claiming the definitive edge, talk of a rematch is already underway. Pacquiao, who came out of retirement less than a month after his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, expressed his determination to fight on and inspire boxers of all ages.
“I hope this is an inspiration to boxers that if you have discipline and work hard you can still fight at this age.” — Manny Pacquiao
Should a rematch materialize, Pacquiao may yet get another chance to rewrite welterweight history. Barrios, meanwhile, keeps his title and gains the admiration of having shared the ring with one of boxing’s greats.