Manny Pacquiao battles Mario Barrios to majority draw in gutsy WBC title fight comeback

Peter Jandrei Melan

In a gritty return to boxing’s grand stage, Manny Pacquiao proved that age is just a number, but the judges weren’t convinced enough to give him the belt.

Photo Courtesy of Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images/REUTERS.

In his first fight in nearly four years, the 46-year-old Filipino legend fought Mario Barrios to a majority draw in their 12-round clash for the WBC welterweight title Sunday (Philippine time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, July 20. 

The judges scored it 115-113 for Barrios, and 114-114 on the two remaining scorecards, allowing Barrios to retain his title.

“I thought I won the fight,” Pacquiao said after the result. “It was a close fight. My opponent is very tough–Barrios is a wonderful fighter.”

Pacquiao opened the fight sharply, establishing his jab and landing crisp left hands to the body. His signature lateral movement kept Barrios guessing.

In the early rounds, the eight-division champion looked surprisingly sharp, even slipping through jabs and firing combinations to the delight of the heavily pro-Pacquiao crowd. Barrios showed respect for Pacquiao’s speed and timing, but also began to adjust as the fight progressed.

By Round 4, Barrios began to land meaningful body shots, some of which drew complaints from Pacquiao about low blows. Still, the “Pambansang Kamao” continued to dart in and out, landing clean shots inside the pocket and keeping Barrios on the back foot through Rounds 5 and 6. 

Though visibly aged, Pacquiao’s footwork and rhythm were still enough to steal moments, if not rounds, especially when flurrying in the final seconds.

Barrios, 31, began to find more success in the later rounds, targeting Pacquiao’s midsection and using his jab to control the distance. 

Pacquiao, however, surged again in Rounds 7 through 9, firing four-punch combinations and staying aggressive on the inside. 

The crowd chanted “Manny! Manny!” with every flurry, clearly sensing the possibility of a comeback win.

As fatigue set in, Barrios capitalized with timely counters in Round 10 and briefly stunned Pacquiao in Round 11 with a clean shot that caused his knees to dip. But the fighting senator recovered quickly and rallied with two strong punches that re-energized the crowd. 

In the 12th and final round, both fighters started cautiously, trading short bursts but avoiding all-out exchanges. Pacquiao played the veteran, drawing Barrios in, but failed to land the type of conclusive shots that could’ve sealed the win on the cards.

When the scores were read, 115-113 for Barrios, 114-114 twice, the decision drew a mix of disappointment and admiration from fans. For Pacquiao, now 62-8-3 with 39 KOs, it marked his first draw since his legendary 2004 duel with Juan Manuel Marquez and his second straight fight without a victory, following his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugas.

Barrios, who improved to 41-2-2 (30 KOs), secured his second consecutive draw following a 2024 split decision stalemate with Abel Ramos. 

Despite this, he expressed admiration for the ageless warrior he shared the ring with.

“It’s crazy. His stamina, he could still crack,” Barrios said. “He’s still strong and with his timing and rhythm, he’s still an awkward fighter to figure out. He still has some good legs, a lot left in the tank.”

Despite the outcome, the night belonged to Pacquiao in spirit. He reminded the world of his legendary resilience, his evergreen speed, and his fighting heart. Whether this was a final flourish or a precursor to one last title run remains uncertain.

But for 12 rounds, Manny Pacquiao gave boxing fans one more classic. And he proved, once again, that even at 46, he still belongs among the elite.