By Victor Kanayo
Renowned fighter Manny Pacquiao is already making plans for a rematch after he drew with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in a professional comeback boxing at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
The fight ended after their 12-round title clash.
Fighting at age 46, after four years out of the ring, the Filipino boxing legend impressed early on but faded in the later rounds.
Judges’ Score
Judges scored the bout 115-113 for Barrios and 114-114 on two cards, denying Pacquiao a fairytale return.
Pacquiao had been ahead on the cards after nine rounds, but Barrios closed strongly to secure the draw.
Stats showed Pacquiao landed 101 punches (17.5%) to Barrios’ 120 (18.2%), with the Filipino throwing more power punches (81 to 75).
Another Historic Move
Despite the result, Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles across eight weight divisions, is already looking ahead to a possible rematch, with a reignited talk of a second fight with former rival Floyd Mayweather.
The former Philippine senator was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June 2025, becoming the first inductee to return to world title contention after enshrinement.
Renewed Pressure For Barrios
Barrios, 16 years Pacquiao’s junior, retained his WBC title but now faces renewed pressure for a rematch, as Pacquiao eyes at least one more high-profile bout before the end of 2025.
Pacquiao became the oldest fighter to win the welterweight title when he did so at the age of 40 in 2019.
