Manny Pacquiao stepped back into the ring after four years away and fought to a majority draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. The 46-year-old Filipino legend showed he's still got it in a thrilling bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Two judges scored the fight 114-114, while the third gave a slight edge to Barrios with a 115-113 scorecard. Pacquiao's performance impressed many, proving that age hasn't slowed him down much.
The eight-division world champion put on a display that had fans on their feet, trading blows with the younger champion throughout the contest. Pacquiao's speed and ring generalship were still evident, even as he approaches his 47th birthday.
Despite the close nature of the fight, it looks like we won't see a rematch anytime soon. Pacquiao's manager, Sean Gibbons, made that clear in no uncertain terms during an interview with The Mayweather Channel.
"F--k Mario Barrios. Who the f--k wants to see him? Manny Pacquiao beat Mario Barrios. F--k Mario Barrios. Not in a bad way, I like him, but f--k him. Manny Pacquiao beat Mario Barrios. Why should he, why does he need to fight him again? You know, if Manny wants to continue fighting, there's fighters like Rolly Romero, there's fighters like Gervonta Davis."
Gibbons' colorful language aside, it's clear that Team Pacquiao feels they've got nothing left to prove against Barrios. They're setting their sights on bigger fish, with names like Rolly Romero and Gervonta Davis mentioned as potential opponents.
Pacquiao seems ready to continue his storied career, even as he nears 47. There's talk of taking on other world welterweight champions, and rumors persist about a possible rematch with his old rival Floyd Mayweather.
Whatever comes next, Pacquiao's performance against Barrios showed he's still a force to be reckoned with in the boxing world. The Filipino icon's return to the ring has certainly reignited interest in his career, and fans will be eagerly awaiting news of his next move.
