UPDATE: In a dramatic showdown on Saturday night in Las Vegas, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao experienced a bittersweet return to the ring, settling for a majority draw against Mario Barrios in his quest for the WBC welterweight championship. With two judges scoring the bout as a draw and a third awarding Barrios a 115-113 victory, the outcome has left fans buzzing.
At 46 years old, Pacquiao aimed to defy the odds and reclaim his status as the oldest welterweight champion. The Filipino icon, who was recently inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, fought for the first time in nearly four years since a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugás. The crowd, heavily favoring Pacquiao, erupted in boos at the announcement of the decision.
Barrios, a 30-year-old fighter from San Antonio, entered the ring as a -275 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook, looking to bounce back from a split-decision draw against Abel Ramos on November 15. Despite his efforts, he could not secure an emphatic win, now standing at 29-2-2.
The fight showcased Pacquiao’s legendary resilience as he attempted to land powerful shots against Barrios, but the judges’ scores reflected a close contest. Pacquiao, with a career record of 62-9-2, hinted that this may not be the end of his boxing journey, promising fans that he is not ready to hang up his gloves just yet.
In the co-main event, Sebastian Fundora retained his WBC super welterweight title against Tim Tszyu, who did not come out for the eighth round after being floored in the first. Fundora dominated the fight, landing an impressive 118 power punches and leading all judges at 69-63.
Fundora, who recently celebrated his acceptance into Harvard, highlighted his ambitions inside and outside the ring, stating, “I just kept working on aggression my whole career.” His victory over Tszyu marks a significant step in his career, especially after a much closer encounter in their first fight earlier this year.
Fans and analysts alike are left pondering the implications of Pacquiao’s performance and what it means for the future of boxing. With uncertainty surrounding the veteran fighter’s next steps, one thing is clear: this thrilling matchup has reignited excitement around the sport.
Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the fallout from this electrifying night in Las Vegas, where legends still fight to prove their worth.
