Manny Pacquiao Turns Back Clock But Settles For Draw With Mario Barrios

By nan clip nan last doorbell rang, Manny Pacquiao had done everything but triumph nan fight. He out-threw, out-landed and out-hustled a champion 16 years his inferior connected Saturday nighttime successful Las Vegas, but nan scorecards told a different story.

Pacquiao’s spirited return to nan ringing aft a four-year layoff ended successful a mostly tie against WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios. One judge scored it 115–113 for Barrios, while nan different 2 had it 114–114, allowing nan 30-year-old Texan to clasp his loop by nan narrowest of margins. (The Guardian scored it 115-113 for Pacquiao.)

“I thought I won nan fight,” Pacquiao said afterward. “It was a adjacent fight. My force was very tough. It was a awesome fight.”

The consequence was met pinch lusty boos from a pro-Pacquiao crowd wrong nan MGM Grand Garden Arena, which had spent overmuch of nan evening roaring their support for nan 46-year-old from nan Philippines. And for overmuch of nan bout, it looked for illustration they were astir to witnesser history yet again.

Mario Barrios, left, fights Manny Pacquiao connected Saturday successful Las Vegas. Photograph: John Locher/AP

From nan opening information Pacquiao fought pinch astonishing urgency, utilizing angles and measurement punching and his signature manus velocity to offset Barrios’ height, younker and four-inch scope advantage. He won nan first framework down a flurry of jabs and consecutive lefts, sparking large cheers pinch each landed punch.

Though Barrios began to find a location for his jab and antagonistic correct hands successful nan second, Pacquiao resumed power successful nan 3rd pinch a sharper hit and faster hands, dictating nan gait of nan action. He buzzed Barrios successful nan sixth pinch a snapping near hand, past again moments later pinch different lead changeable that caught nan champion square. “His stamina, he could still crack,” Barrios said. “He’s still beardown arsenic hell. His timing, his rhythm, everything. He was still a very awkward combatant to effort to fig out.”

Pacquiao’s performance, peculiarly successful rounds six done nine, had nan emotion of a clip warp. He zipped successful and retired of scope pinch fluid footwork and mixed successful operation for illustration a man half his age. By nan extremity of nan 10th, Pacquiao appeared to beryllium good up connected nan scorecards. Even Barrios seemed to admit he had to excavation heavy to adjacent nan gap. “Not needfully that it was getting distant from me,” Barrios said. “I conscionable knew I had to effort to measurement it up to really solidify a win.”

To his credit, Barrios did conscionable that. He intelligibly won nan 11th, landing his champion operation of nan nighttime and forcing Pacquiao into a uncommon series of retreat. In nan 12th, he kept nan tempo high, trading shots and finishing beardown – conscionable capable to expanse nan last 3 rounds connected each 3 charismatic cards and clasp nan WBC’s type of nan title astatine 147lb. “I thought I still pulled it out,” Barrios said. “But I still extremity my chapeau to Manny. It was an absolute grant to stock nan ringing pinch him, personification pinch truthful overmuch acquisition who has accomplished truthful overmuch successful this sport. We near everything successful nan ring. Nothing but emotion and respect.”

The conflict marked Pacquiao’s first since his unanimous-decision nonaccomplishment to Yordenis Ugás successful 2021. He was inducted into nan International Boxing Hall of Fame past month, and fewer expected him to compete again astatine this level, overmuch little push a reigning titleholder to nan brink. “I’m much experienced,” Pacquiao said. “I’m a much tactical combatant than before. I’m not arsenic sloppy arsenic I was erstwhile I was young. Now I’m much careful.”

Mario Barrios, right, lands a changeable to Manny Pacquiao’s assemblage connected Saturday night. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

That maturity showed successful his measured footwork, selective bursts and seasoned nous, including moments wherever he appeared to beryllium refereeing nan conflict himself. But moreover Pacquiao admitted his comeback campy had been rushed. “I only had 2 months training,” he said. “What I request to do is proceed my training. In a title conflict for illustration this, I should train 4 months, [or astatine least] 3 months and a half. But because of nan predetermination successful nan Philippines, I started late. But it’s OK. I emotion nan Filipino people, and I emotion to springiness grant to my country.”

Pacquiao, whose master grounds now stands astatine 62–9–3 pinch 39 knockouts, said he would “absolutely” see fighting again and made it clear he wants a rematch. “Yes, of course,” he said. “That’s nan only bequest that I tin time off behind. To springiness inspiration to nan Filipino group and to beryllium proud wherever you are.”

Barrios, whose ledger moves to 29–2–2 aft a 2nd consecutive draw, seemed unfastened to nan idea. “Absolutely. This was immense for boxing,” he said. “What maine and him were capable to bring present today, I would emotion to do it again.”

More than 4 decades aft his master debut, Pacquiao erstwhile again proved that property is conscionable a number and that greatness, moreover successful a draw, still carries nan powerfulness to inspire. “It’s an inspiration to aged boxers,” Pacquiao said. “If you person subject and difficult work, you tin still fight. I’m truthful thankful to God, because without God, Manny Pacquiao is not here. God is nan root of each nan spot and bully wellness that I person correct now.”