Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios fought to a majority draw last Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The 46-year-old Pacquiao surprised many by going toe-to-toe with the 30-year-old WBC welterweight champion Barrios.
The judges couldn't separate the two fighters after 12 rounds. Two scorecards read 114-114, while one judge gave Barrios a slight edge at 115-113. Barrios kept his title because of the draw.
Barrios landed more jabs during the fight. Pacquiao threw his signature combinations, but they lacked the sting of his prime years. The Filipino legend still showed flashes of his famous speed and experience.
Many analysts and fans felt Pacquiao deserved to win. Some even called the decision a "robbery." This kind of split opinion often happens in close fights.
Former world champion Timothy Bradley, who fought Pacquiao three times, had a different take. He told reporters:
"The fight was a draw. Neither deserved to win. It wasn't even a fight. It looked like a sparring session."
Bradley didn't hold back on criticizing both fighters:
"Barrios, you were supposed to put this legend in your history. You showed too much respect."
About Pacquiao, Bradley said:
"I'm happy to see Pacman back in the ring, but he doesn't belong there anymore."
Despite his age, Pacquiao seems determined to keep fighting. There's talk he might face Rolando Romero next. The boxing world will keep debating whether the draw was fair, but one thing's for sure - at 46, Pacquiao's still making headlines in the sport.
