Pacquiao and Barrios Fight to a Controversial Draw: Rematch Looming?
A majority draw on Saturday night left fans debating whether Manny Pacquiao, at 46 years old, truly came up short in his attempt to recapture world championship glory against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. The fight, held on Saturday, saw a split decision from the judges – 115-113 in favor of Barrios, alongside two cards scoring the bout 114-114.
Pacquiao, a legendary eight-division world champion, was aiming to become the first boxer in history to win world titles across four different decades. While he displayed remarkable endurance and commitment, the fight revealed a noticeable decline in his explosive power and defensive reflexes. Barrios, however, didn’t fully capitalize on these vulnerabilities over the course of 12 rounds, allowing Pacquiao to land several impressive shots.
“I thought I won the fight,” Pacquiao stated after the bout. “It was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. It was a wonderful fight. It was good.”
Barrios echoed a similar sentiment, acknowledging the challenge posed by the boxing icon. “I thought I still pulled it out, but I still tip my hat to Manny,” Barrios said. “It was an absolute honor to share the ring with him, someone who has accomplished so much in the sport. … We came in here and left everything in the ring. Like I said, I tip my hat to Manny.”
Throughout the fight, Barrios effectively utilized his jab, but often failed to follow up with significant power punches or attack his older opponent’s body. The crowd, overwhelmingly in Pacquiao’s favor, reacted enthusiastically to every offensive move, potentially influencing the perceived momentum of the fight. Despite this, Pacquiao demonstrated a tenacious spirit and a clear desire to reclaim a world championship.
The possibility of a rematch is already gaining traction, with both fighters expressing interest. Pacquiao attributed his performance, in part, to a limited training camp. “I think so, I think so,” Pacquiao said when asked about a potential second fight. “God willing. I only had two months of training. In a championship fight like this, I should have trained for four months or three months, [but didn’t] because of the election in the Philippines.”
Barrios enthusiastically agreed, emphasizing the significance of the event for the sport. “Absolutely [I would take the rematch], this was huge for boxing,” Barrios stated. “This was huge, and I’d love to do it again.”
Other Results from Saturday’s Card:
- Sebastian Fundora (c) defeated Tim Tszyu via seventh-round TKO (corner stoppage) in a rematch of their 2024 Fight of the Year contender. Fundora left no doubt this time, dominating Tszyu and securing the stoppage after a first-round knockdown.
- Isaac Cruz defeated Omar Salcido via unanimous decision (99-89, 99-89, 100-88).
- Brandon Figueroa defeated Joet Gonzalez via unanimous decision (115-113, 116-112, 116-112).
- David Picasso defeated Kyonosuke Kameda via majority decision (98-92, 97-93, 95-95).
- Mark Magsayo defeated Jorge Mata via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 98-92).
- Gary Allen Russell Jr. defeated Hugo Castaneda via 10th-round TKO.
The outcome of the Pacquiao-Barrios fight leaves the door open for a compelling rematch, potentially offering Pacquiao one last chance to etch his name further into boxing history. Whether he can regain the form of his prime remains to be seen, but the prospect of another encounter between these two fighters is undoubtedly exciting for boxing fans worldwide.
