Camille Naredo

Manny Pacquiao reacts after his WBC welterweight title fight against Mario Barrios at MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 19, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was declared a majority draw and Barrios retained his title. Ethan Miller, Getty Images/AFP

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 19: Manny Pacquiao reacts after his WBC welterweight title fight against Mario Barrios at MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 19, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was declared a majority draw and Barrios retained his title.   Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Article (news)

Manny Pacquiao v Mario Barrios

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752987643612AFP__20250720__2226077447__v1__HighRes__MannyPacquiaoVMarioBarrios.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Manny Pacquiao reacts after his WBC welterweight title fight against Mario Barrios at MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 19, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was declared a majority draw and Barrios retained his title. Ethan Miller, Getty Images/AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Manny Pacquiao reacts after his WBC welterweight title fight against Mario Barrios at MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 19, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was declared a majority draw and Barrios retained his title. <em>Ethan Miller, Getty Images/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>The &quot;Pacman&quot; proved that he has plenty left in the tank -- just not enough to win a world championship in his comeback.</p><p>Filipino boxing icon Manny &quot;Pacman&quot; Pacquiao put on an inspired performance in front of a partisan crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, going toe-to-toe with the much younger defending champion, Mario Barrios, in his highly-anticipated return to the ring.</p><p>At 46 years old, Pacquiao showed that he is still capable of battling with a boxer in his prime, but Barrios did enough down the stretch to hold off the veteran and extend his reign as champion.</p><p>One judge saw the bout 115-113 in favor of Barrios, while the two others scored it an even 114-114 for a majority draw. The result meant that Barrios retained the WBC welterweight championship.</p><p>&quot;I thought I won the fight,&quot; Pacquiao said afterwards. &quot;I mean, it was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. But it was a wonderful fight. I was trying to find a way to finish the fight but my opponent was so tough. He threw punches in combination and with defense, so it was hard.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I only had two months&#x27; training,&quot; Pacquiao also said. &quot;What I need to do is to continue my training… In a championship fight like this, I should train for four months or three and a half months.&quot;</p><p>However, Pacquiao explained that because of the midterm elections in the Philippines, his preparations for the Barrios bout started late. Pacquiao had failed to win a seat in the Senate in the 2025 polls. </p><p>&quot;But it&#x27;s okay, I love the Filipino people,&quot; he said, before confirming that he would like a rematch against the 30-year-old Barrios.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2025/7/19/pacquiao-and-barrios-make-weight-ahead-of-wbc-welterweight-title-fight-at-mgm-grand-0958">READ: Pacquiao and Barrios make weight ahead of WBC welterweight title fight</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;HE COULD STILL CRACK&#x27;</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752987577809EMBED_Pacquiao-Barrios Weigh-ins.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios weigh-in ahead of their WBC welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 18, 2025. Esther Lin, PBC"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios weigh-in ahead of their WBC welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 18, 2025. <em>Esther Lin, PBC</em></span></span></span></div><p>Barrios was the odds-on favorite entering the match. Pacquiao had not fought professionally since a loss to Yordenis Ugás in 2021, after which he embarked on an ill-fated campaign for the Philippine presidency.</p><p>But the &quot;Pacman&quot; started off strong, showing that he still carried the speed and footwork that led him to become the only boxer in history to win world championships in eight different weight divisions. He took control of the fight midway through the rounds, unleashing eye-catching combinations that drew roars from the crowd.</p><p>With the fans at the MGM Grand chanting his name, Pacquiao ramped up the pressure in the eighth and ninth rounds, finding a target for his lead left and landing more combinations. Barrios, who had kept the Filipino away with his jab in the early goings, struggled to find his target.</p><p>Buoyed by his corner to go for the win in the championship rounds, Barrios came alive in the final three frames and did enough to push Pacquiao on the back foot. A strong final round likely sealed the result for Barrios, as he landed a flurry of shots to Pacquiao&#x27;s face and had him against the ropes in the closing seconds.</p><p>&quot;I thought I still pulled it out,&quot; Barrios said after the bout. &quot;I tip my hat to Manny -- it was an absolute honor to share the ring with him … By far, the biggest event I&#x27;ve had to date. I tip my hat to Manny, nothing but love and respect.&quot;</p><p>Barrios, who landed 45 jabs to Pacquiao&#x27;s 20, acknowledged that the Filipino icon could still fight at a high level, even at age 46.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s crazy -- his stamina, he could still crack. He&#x27;s still strong as hell,&quot; he said. &quot;He still has good legs, still has a lot left in the tank.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ANOTHER FIGHT?</strong></div><p>Pacquiao confirmed in the post-fight interview that he intends to fight again. &quot;I think so, God-willing,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s the only legacy that I can leave behind, to give inspiration to the Filipino people,&quot; he also said.</p><p>Barrios also said that he would be open to a rematch, saying that it would be &quot;huge for boxing.&quot; </p><p>&quot;I would love to do it again,&quot; he added.</p><p>Pacquiao had been aiming to become the first fighter to win a major world title after being inducted to boxing&#x27;s Hall of Fame.</p><p>Both fighters comfortably made the weight on Friday, with Pacquiao weighing in at 146.8 pounds and Barrios at 146.2 pounds. </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m so happy I&#x27;m back because boxing is my passion and I missed boxing,&quot; Pacquiao said after making the weight. -- <strong>with Agence France-Presse</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WWkViHy6kiE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The "Pacman" proved that he has plenty left in the tank -- just not enough to win a world championship in his comeback.</p>

The "Pacman" proved that he has plenty left in the tank -- just not enough to win a world championship in his comeback.

In boxing comeback, inspired Pacquiao battles Barrios to majority draw

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In boxing comeback, inspired Pacquiao battles Barrios to majority draw

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 20, 2025 12:23 PM PHT

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Updated July 20, 2025 07:14 PM PHT

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