Manny Pacquiao's comeback fight against Mario Barrios ended in a majority draw. The 46-year-old Filipino legend returned to the ring after four years away to challenge for the WBC welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on July 19.
The judges couldn't separate the two fighters after 12 competitive rounds. One scorecard favored Barrios 115-113, while the other two had it even at 114-114. Many fans and observers felt Pacquiao had done enough to win despite concerns about his age and long absence from the sport.
Pacquiao's last victory came back in 2019, making his performance against the younger champion all the more impressive. The "Pac-Man" showed he can still compete at the highest level even in his mid-40s.
Three-weight world champion James Toney shared his thoughts on the outcome. Toney, who held titles at middleweight, super-middleweight, and cruiserweight in the 1990s, was considered one of the best fighters of his era. He told FightHype:
"I thought Pacquiao won. [He was] busier, he landed more shots. It's the politics of boxing."
Pacquiao hinted he may continue boxing after the draw. While a rematch with Barrios is possible, the Filipino icon could opt for a bigger name opponent for his next fight given the interest his return generated.
The competitive nature of the bout proved Pacquiao can still mix it with top welterweights despite his advanced age. His performance will likely fuel speculation about potential matchups against other big names in and around the 147-pound division.