LAS VEGAS — In a clash of generations, Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios delivered a high-octane spectacle that ended in a majority draw Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, leaving the WBC welterweight title with its reigning champion and no definitive victor in the ring.
The 12-round bout, witnessed by a roaring crowd of 13,107, saw one judge score it 115-113 in favor of Barrios, while the other two scored it 114-114, reflecting the razor-thin margin between the fighters’ performances. The result left both men respectful but eager for a rematch.
“I thought I won the fight. It was a close fight. He was very tough,” said Pacquiao, 46, whose relentless aggression and nimble footwork defied his age and four-year hiatus from professional boxing. “I had to find a way to finish the fight better, but my opponent is so tough. He threw a lot of good combinations and had defense.”
Barrios, the 30-year-old Mexican-American champion, used his height advantage and a crisp jab to keep Pacquiao at bay for stretches of the fight. “The plan was to press him and try to make him feel old. But he’s still got good legs,” Barrios said, acknowledging the Filipino icon’s resilience while retaining his title.
Pacquiao (now 62-8-3, 39 KOs) showcased flashes of his legendary form, piercing Barrios’ guard with body combinations and sharp left straights. “I was more tactical in this fight than my last time fighting,” he said, referencing his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugas. “I needed to be more active and throw more punches, because that’s my style.”
Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs), no stranger to close decisions after a majority draw in his previous fight against Abel Ramos, countered with a disciplined strategy. His jab disrupted Pacquiao’s rhythm, but the eight-division champion’s determination kept the bout fiercely competitive.
The electric atmosphere in the arena matched the fighters’ intensity, with fans treated to a chess match of Barrios’ technical precision against Pacquiao’s relentless pressure. Yet, neither could sway the judges decisively.
Barrios was quick to embrace the idea of a second showdown. “I’ll do the rematch. Absolutely. This was huge for boxing. I’d love to do it again,” he said.
Pacquiao, whose late training start due to election commitments may have factored into his performance, signaled he’s far from done. “I need to continue my training for longer going into a championship fight,” he said. “Of course I’d like a rematch. I want to leave a legacy and make the Filipino people proud.”
The draw sets the stage for a potential sequel, with both fighters proving they have the heart and skill to keep boxing fans on the edge of their seats.
