Manny Pacquiao’s return to the ring ended in a tightly contested majority draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila).
One judge scored the bout 115-113 in favor of Barrios, while the remaining two called it even at 114-114, allowing the American to retain his title.
At 46, the Filipino boxing icon was eyeing an unprecedented feat—becoming the first boxer to win a major world title after being inducted into the Hall of Fame. It was Pacquiao’s first professional bout since his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugás, which marked his retirement from the sport.
In the years that followed, Pacquiao turned to politics, mounting an unsuccessful presidential campaign and later failing to secure a Senate seat in the 2025 elections.
Ahead of the match, both fighters made weight with ease—Pacquiao at 146.8 pounds and Barrios at 146.2 pounds. During the weigh-in, Pacquiao expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m so happy I’m back because boxing is my passion and I missed boxing.”
Despite the outcome, Pacquiao showed he could still hold his own in the ring, proving that his fighting spirit remains very much alive.
