The 46-year-old Filipino legend went the full 12 rounds with Barrios, who's 16 years his junior. Many fans thought Pacquiao had done enough to win, but the judges saw it differently. One scored it 115-113 for Barrios, while the other two called it even at 114-114, resulting in a majority decision draw.
Pacquiao's age raised questions about his ability to compete at the highest level. But he proved he could still hang with the younger champion throughout the fight. His goal of becoming a world champion again fell short, but he showed he's still got some fight left in him.
Pacquiao's performance impressed many, considering he hadn't fought since August 2021. He managed to go toe-to-toe with Barrios for the entire fight, surprising those who thought he might be past his prime.
Barrios kept his WBC welterweight title with the draw. After the fight, he praised Pacquiao's power and explained his cautious approach:
"He still has a lot of crack. It wasn't about respect. He was very explosive and very tricky and I wasn't trying to make a mistake by overcommitting on a shot that I wasn't sure of."
This statement from Barrios' post-fight press conference shows he was wary of Pacquiao's abilities, even at 46.
Pacquiao's future in boxing remains uncertain. He's already made a decision about whether he'll seek a rematch or return to retirement, but those details haven't been shared yet. For now, fans can appreciate that the boxing legend proved he can still compete at a high level, even if he didn't get the win he was hoping for.