Pacquiao returns at 46, battles to controversial draw vs. Barrios
Hall of Famer appears to have deserved decision, but falls short of winning WBC welterweight title; vows to fight on
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LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao, who turned pro in 1995, is now 46 and was coming out of a four-year retirement. Few gave him much of a chance to win or even to compete with WBC welterweight titlist Mario Barrios, a man 16 years his junior.
But the ageless wonder not only competed, legions thought he was the rightful winner of what was ruled a majority draw in the main event of the PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view card on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where Pacquiao fought for a record-setting 16th time before an adoring crowd of 13,107.
Pacquiao, who was the considerable underdog, had his first pro fight four months before Barrios was even born yet was in position to win. He led on all three scorecards after the ninth round, but the judges all gave Barrios the final three rounds, allowing him to squeak out a draw to retain his 147-pound title for the second time. He also fought to a draw in his first defense against Abel Ramos in November.
Judge Max De Luca had Barrios winning 115-113 while Tim Cheatham and Steve Weisfeld both scored it 114-114. Fight Freaks Unite had Pacquiao winning 117-111 and most media members on press row had Pacquiao winning with a smattering of draws.
“It was an honor to share the ring with him,” Barrios said. “This is by far the biggest event I’ve had to date and we came in here and left everything in the ring. I have nothing but respect for Manny.”
It was an inspirational showing from one of boxing’s all-time greats. The only eight-division world champion, the 2000s fighter of the decade and the oldest fighter to win a welterweight title, doing so at age 40 by outpointing Keith Thurman in 2019, was inducted into the International Hall of Fame on June 8.