by When the last bell rang, Manny Pacquiao had done everything except the fight. He was a champion in Las Vegas on Saturday evening in Las Vegas, which was a champion for 16 years, and the Scorecards told a different story.
The spirited return of Pacquiao into the ring after a four -year discharge against the majority care against the defending champion of the WBC Welterweight Mario Barrios ended. A judge scored 115–113 for Barrios, while the other two had 114–114, so that the 30-year-old Texan could keep his belt at the most close of the edges. (The Guardian scored 115-113 for Pacquiao.)
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“I thought I had won the fight,” said Pacquiao afterwards. “It was a tight struggle. My opponent was very hard. It was a wonderful fight.”
The result was hit with pleasurable Böpen of a Pro-Pacquiao volume in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, which had spent a large part of the evening to roar the support for the 46-year-old from the Philippines. And for a large part of the fight, it looked like they were experiencing the story again.
From the opening round, Pacquiao fought with a surprising urgency, using angles and volume punches and its typical hand speed to compensate for barriers’ height, youth and four-inch range. He won the first frame behind a flood of bumps and straight left and triggered loud cheers with every land stamp.
Related: Manny Pacquiao against Mario Barrios: WBC championship in the world weight -Live reaction
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Although Barrios found a home for his plugs and the right hands in the second time, Pacquiao took control again with a sharper rhythm and faster hands in the third and dictated the pace of the action. He buzzed in the sixth with a snapping left hand and then shortly later, another lead shot made the champion Square. “His endurance, he could still crack,” said Barrios. “He is still hellish. His timing, his rhythm, everything. He was still a very unpleasant fighter to find out.”
Pacquiao’s performance, especially in the six to nine laps, had the feeling of a time distortion. He tore in and outside the range with liquid footwork and mixed in combination like a man in half age. At the end of the 10th Pacquiao seemed to be far ahead of the scorecards. Barrios even seemed to be recognized that he had to dig deeply to close the gap. “Not necessarily that it was away from me,” said Barrios. “I only knew that I had to try to improve it to really consolidate a win.”
Barrios did exactly that. He clearly won the 11th, landed his best combination of the night and forced Pacquiao into a rare sequence of retreat. In the 12th he stopped the pace, acted and ended the final shots – just enough to sweep the last three rounds on all three official cards and keep the WBC version of the title at £ 147. “I thought I was still pulling it out,” said Barrios. “But I still guess my hat on Manny. It was an absolute honor to share the ring with him, someone with so much experience that has achieved so much in this sport. We left everything in the ring. Nothing but love and respect.”
The fight was Pacquiao’s first since his unanimous loss against Yordenis Ugás in 2021. “I’m more experienced,” said Pacquiao. “I am a more tactical fighter than before. I am not as careless as I am when I was young. Now I’m more careful.”
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This maturity showed itself in his measured footwork, selective bursts and the veteran nous, including moments when he seemed to protect the fight himself. But even Pacquiao admitted that his comeback camp had been rushed. “I only had two months of training,” he said. “I have to continue my training. In such a championship fight I should train for four months, [or at least] Three and a half months. But because of the choice in the Philippines, I started late. But it’s okay. I love the Filipino people and I love to honor my country. “
Pacquiao, whose professional record is now at 62–9–3 with 39 Knockouts, said that he would “absolutely” consider, fight again and made it clear that he wanted a reservations. “Yes, of course,” he said. “This is the only legacy that I can leave behind. To inspire the Filipino people and be proud wherever they are.”
Barrios, whose main book was moved to 29–2–2 after a second draw in a row, seemed to be open to the idea. “Absolutely. That was huge for boxing,” he said. “I would like to do what I and he could bring here today.”
More than four decades after his professional debut, Pacquiao again demonstrated that age is only a number and that this size, even with a tie, is still inspired. “It’s an inspiration for old boxers,” said Pacquiao. “If you have discipline and hard work, you can still fight. I am so grateful to God, because without God Manny Pacquiao is not here. God is the source of all strength and good health that I have.”
