The judges scored the bout a majority decision draw. One judge had it 115-113 for Barrios, while the other two scored it 114-114. This result allowed Barrios to keep his WBC welterweight title.
Before the fight, many worried that Pacquiao, known as 'Pac-Man', might struggle against a younger opponent. But the eight-weight world champion proved he still had plenty left in the tank. He stayed competitive throughout all 12 rounds, surprising many with his performance.
When the final bell rang, a lot of people thought Pacquiao had done enough to win. This feeling was echoed by WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez. In a video interview with FightHype, Lopez shared his thoughts on the fight.
"Pacquiao won that s**t. I had it 10-2, 9-3. The amount of punches were connecting and the last 10 seconds he was showing the more aggressive punches."
Lopez believes Pacquiao shouldn't pursue a rematch with Barrios. Instead, he suggests a different opponent for the Filipino boxing legend.
"He should fight Mayweather. Pacquiao has still got it. I don't think he should [rematch Barrios]. I feel like Pacquiao did more than enough and he really outshined him."
Mayweather, Pacquiao's old rival, could be an interesting option. However, Pacquiao has already hinted at his next move, though details remain under wraps.
Pacquiao's comeback at 46 has been called sensational by many in the boxing world. Despite the draw, his performance showed he can still compete at a high level, even after a long break from the sport.