Pacquiao’s comeback falls quick as Barrios retains WBC welterweight title in majority draw

By MARK ANDERSONThe Related Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Manny Pacquiao pushed again in opposition to his doubters, the chances and even Father Time on Saturday night time — and almost made some historical past.

However Pacquiao, ultimately, fell simply quick on the judges’ scorecards as Mario Barrios escaped with a majority draw to retain the WBC welterweight championship. Two judges scored the bout a draw, and choose Max DeLuca awarded Barrios a 115-113 victory.

The Related Press scored the battle 115-113 in favor of Pacquiao.

“I thought I won the fight,” Pacquiao mentioned.

Barrios landed extra complete punches (120-101), based on Compubox, however Pacquiao had the sting in energy pictures (81-75).

Pacquiao, enshrined into the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame final month, was attempting to interrupt his personal file for oldest welterweight champion. He was 40 when he emerged in 2019 break up choice over Keith Thurman. This additionally was his first look within the ring in almost 4 years for the 46-year-old Filipino, a loss by unanimous choice to Yordenis Ugás.

Barrios, a 30-year-old from San Antonio, was a -275 favourite at BetMGM Sportsbook. He hoped to bounce again from a split-decision draw on Nov. 15 in opposition to Abel Ramos, however didn’t precisely come away with an emphatic victory in bettering to 29-2-2. The closely pro-Pacquiao crowd loudly booed the choice.

“It was an honor to share the ring with him,” Barrios mentioned. “That is by far the largest occasion I’ve needed to date, and we got here in right here and left the whole lot within the ring. I’ve nothing however respect for Manny.

“His stamina is crazy. He’s still strong as hell and his timing is real. He’s still a very awkward fighter to try to figure out.”

Pacman (62-9-2) moved swiftly across the ring from the start, typically wanting extra just like the youthful champion who captured 12 world titles in eight divisions. He started to be take management within the seventh, touchdown a number of massive left arms to win the next three rounds on two playing cards and two on the opposite.

However Barrios was the higher fighter on the finish, popping out extra aggressive figuring out he is likely to be in hassle with the judges. All three, in actual fact, awarded Barrios every of the ultimate three rounds.

“I didn’t think the fight was getting away from me, but I knew I had to step it up to solidify a win,” Barrios mentioned.

Each side they’d be fascinated about a rematch.

“I hope this is an inspiration to boxers that if you have discipline and work hard you can still fight at this age,” Pacquiao mentioned.

Sebastian Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) retained his WBC tremendous welterweight title when Tim Tszyu (25-3) didn’t come out for the eighth spherical within the co-main occasion. Fundora floored Tszyu with a left hand within the first spherical and dominated the motion with 118 energy punches, based on Compubox, by repeatedly backing down the Australian.

“I’m the bigger guy,” mentioned Fundora, who led 69-63 on all three judges’ playing cards. “Everyone says I’m a bully in the ring, so I thought I should start really bullying these guys. I just kept working on aggression my whole career and we’ve just been adding.”

It was an enormous week for Fundora, who was accepted into Harvard after which gained the rematch with Tszyu. The primary battle on March 30, 2024 was a lot nearer, with Fundora rising with a split-decision victory.

The Coachella, California, resident additionally had been the WBO champion, however that group stripped him of his belt for not preventing necessary challenger Xander Zayas.

Initially Printed: July 20, 2025 at 12:09 PM PDT