The roar that filled the MGM Grand Garden Arena was deafening, a passionate symphony for a legend. At 46 years old, Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao stepped back into the ring, four years after his last professional bout and an ill-fated presidential campaign, to face a formidable challenge in WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
What unfolded was a testament to enduring greatness, a performance that defied Father Time, yet left a bitter taste for many, as the “Pacman” was seemingly denied a chance at rewriting boxing history and making a Filipino nation proud. This desire to inspire a nation through athletic achievement resonates with the recent impact of other Filipino stars, such as tennis sensation Alex Eala, who has been igniting a nation’s tennis dream.
Pacquiao, aiming to become the oldest welterweight champion ever (a record he already held at 40, but sought to reset at 46) and the second oldest to capture a major world title behind only the incomparable Bernard Hopkins (who reigned at 49), fought with a fire that belied his age. He went toe-to-toe with the much younger, prime 30-year-old Barrios, showcasing glimpses of the speed, footwork, and relentless combinations that had earned him world championships in an unprecedented eight weight divisions.
But by the time the final bell rang, the official scorecards delivered a gut punch to the partisan crowd: a majority draw, allowing Barrios to retain his title.
Draw denies Pacquiao historic record, sparks “robbery” claims
One judge scored it 115-113 for Barrios, while the other two had it an even 114-114. However, a significant chorus of boxing experts and fans immediately cried foul, with many online comments echoing the sentiment: “Pacquiao was robbed!” Indeed, an unofficial scorecard from The Guardian had it 115-113 for Pacquiao, reflecting the belief that the Filipino ring general had done enough to secure the victory.
“I thought I won the fight,” a resolute Pacquiao stated afterward, though acknowledging Barrios’ toughness. “It was a close fight… I was trying to find a way to finish the fight, but my opponent was so tough.” The “Pacman” revealed his comeback camp was rushed due to his recent, unsuccessful bid for a Senate seat in the Philippine midterm elections, admitting he “only had two months’ training” when a championship bout of this caliber truly demands “four months or at least three and a half months.”
Despite the political setback, his love for the Filipino people remained undimmed, as he immediately called for a rematch against Barrios.
Barrios, initially the odds-on favorite, found himself on the back foot for significant stretches of the fight. Pacquiao started strong, moving with surprising urgency, leveraging his signature angles and volume punching to overcome Barrios’ height, youth, and four-inch reach advantage.
He controlled the middle rounds, unleashing eye-catching combinations that electrified the MGM Grand, leading the crowd to chant his name. In rounds eight and nine, Pacquiao ramped up the pressure, landing his lead left hand and forcing Barrios to struggle.
“His stamina, he could still crack. He’s still strong as hell,” a respectful Barrios admitted post-fight, praising Pacquiao’s enduring capabilities. “His timing, his rhythm, everything. He was still a very awkward fighter to try to figure out.”
However, Barrios, buoyed by his corner, surged in the championship rounds. He clearly swept the final three frames on all three official scorecards, notably in the 11th and 12th, landing his best combinations of the night and forcing Pacquiao into rare moments of retreat. This strong finish, particularly a flurry in the final seconds of the 12th, likely cemented the draw for Barrios, despite many believing Pacquiao had established a clear lead earlier.
“I thought Manny won the fight, bro. I thought he did more. I thought Manny did more, man. What y’all think? Manny won the fight. Wasn’t by a lot, but it was enough. I thought Manny did more in certain rounds and stole rounds. It was some close rounds, but I thought Manny did what he’s supposed to do,” said Andre Ward, an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2017. He retired with an undefeated record and held multiple world championships in two weight classes: unified super middleweight titles (2009-2015) and unified light heavyweight titles (2016-2017).
Here’s what some boxing experts had to say about the fight:
At 46, Pacman’s brilliance defies time, deserves crowning glory
The fight marked Pacquiao’s first since his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugás. His induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame just last month had many convinced he wouldn’t compete at this level again.
Yet, at 46, he proved the doubters wrong, pushing a reigning champion to the absolute brink. “I’m more experienced,” Pacquiao reflected. “I’m a more tactical fighter than before. I’m not as careless as I was when I was young. Now I’m more careful.”
Pacquiao’s professional record now stands at 62-9-3, with 39 knockouts. Despite the contentious draw, he confirmed his intention to fight again, reiterating his desire for a rematch with Barrios. “That’s the only legacy that I can leave behind, to give inspiration to the Filipino people,” he stated. Barrios, whose ledger moved to 29-2-2 after a second straight draw, also expressed openness to a rematch, calling it “huge for boxing.”
Four decades after his professional debut, Manny Pacquiao once again proved that age is merely a number, and that sheer will and discipline can defy the odds.
While the official result denied him another historic milestone, his performance in Las Vegas resonated deeply, leaving boxing pundits and fans alike convinced that “Pacman” was indeed robbed of a chance to solidify his place even further in the annals of boxing history.
With his remarkable comeback, he has proven that he still has plenty left in the tank to compete, if not to win a world championship.
