Manny Pacquiao's bid to become the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history ended in controversy at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night, as the 46-year-old Filipino legend was held to a majority draw by Mario Barrios.
Two judges scored the bout 114-114, whilst Max DeLuca gave Barrios a narrow 115-113 victory, allowing the 30-year-old American to retain his WBC welterweight title.
The result was met with resounding boos from a crowd largely supporting Pacquiao, who was making his first appearance in nearly four years following a 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugas.
"I thought I won the fight," Pacquiao said in his post-fight interview, expressing his disappointment with the judges' decision.
Reuters
|Manny Pacquiao saw his clash against Mario Barrios end in a majority draw
According to Compubox statistics, Barrios landed more total punches (120-101), but Pacquiao held the edge in power shots (81-75).
The Associated Press scored the fight 115-113 in favour of Pacquiao, adding to the controversy surrounding the verdict.
The draw marked Barrios's second consecutive stalemate, following a split-decision draw against Abel Ramos in November.
The result raised fresh questions about the American's claim to the division's throne, despite extending his record to 29-2-2.
Pacquiao showed glimpses of his vintage form in the early rounds, pressing the action with aggressive combinations that recalled his prime years.
He started strongly in the opening two rounds, but Barrios settled into a rhythm by the third, using crisp jabs and effective counters to slow the Filipino icon.
The Hall of Famer picked up the pace in rounds eight through ten, attacking from all angles and thrilling the crowd with bursts of speed and power.
However, the younger Barrios regained control in the final two rounds, capitalising on Pacquiao's diminished output to secure the draw.
Reuters
|Boos rang out after the decision was made
Despite the setback, Pacquiao hinted at continuing his career. "Maybe this is not the end. I think so. God willing," he said, attributing his shortened preparation to political commitments in the Philippines.
"I only have two months training. What I need to do is continue my training, like in a championship fight like this, I should train four months," Pacquiao explained.
Barrios expressed respect for his opponent, calling it "an absolute honour" to share the ring with the eight-division champion.
"I thought I still pulled it out, but I tip my hat to Manny. Nothing but love and respect," the American said.
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