Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring ended in controversy last Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The 46-year-old Filipino boxing legend faced reigning WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios in a bout that left fans and experts divided.
Pacquiao, coming back after four years away from the sport, put on an impressive display against the younger Barrios. The fight ended in a majority draw, with two judges scoring it 114-114 and one giving Barrios the edge at 115-113. This result allowed Barrios to retain his title, but it didn't sit well with many in attendance who felt Pacquiao had done enough to win.
The official scorecards showed a close fight, but retired two-weight world champion Andre Ward had a different take. In footage captured by Fight Hub TV, Ward shared his thoughts on the bout:
"I thought Manny won that. I thought Manny won that fight bro. I know he lost the last round, I think on all the judges scorecards that was the difference maker. I thought Manny won the fight bro. I thought he did more."
Ward acknowledged the fight was close but believed Pacquiao's performance was superior overall:
"Not 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 was supposed to do."
Before the fight, there were concerns about whether Pacquiao could match the tempo and output of the younger champion. The Filipino icon proved doubters wrong with his impressive display, showing he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level despite his age and long layoff.
The controversial result has left fans wondering what's next for Pacquiao. He looks set to continue his boxing career, but it's unclear if he will face Barrios in a rematch. Whatever happens, Pacquiao's performance at 46 years old, after four years of inactivity, has certainly turned heads in the boxing world.
