Pacquiao overshadows his legend with controversial result

The legend returned. Manny Pacquiao laced up his boxing gloves once again in a bid to break one of the sport’s rarest records: becoming the oldest world champion. At 46, he stepped into the ring with Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title at the MGM Grand – an arena that threw its full support behind the Filipino icon. But the night ended in a majority draw, meaning the ‘Aztec’ fighter held on to his belt.

Pacquiao knew that if he wanted to win, he’d have to come out swinging – and he did. From the opening round, he launched powerful combinations at Barrios, who matched him punch for punch. At times, Barrios even managed to eclipse the Filipino star during the action-packed bout in Las Vegas.

Still, Pacquiao’s legend carries weight in boxing, and Barrios showed deference to his opponent as the rounds went on, pulling back from the aggressive pace he’d set at the start. That caution began to cost him as the fight wore on.

Barrios targeted Pacquiao’s body with a few hooks, but Manny countered with overhand rights to the face, leaving visible damage. The younger fighter absorbed the punishment and tried to put Pacquiao down with liver shots of his own.

As the fight moved into the middle rounds, it became clear that Barrios was holding back out of respect, hesitating for long stretches before throwing combinations. His corner noticed – and weren’t happy. They scolded him repeatedly, reminding him this was a championship fight.

Pacquiao picked up on his opponent’s reluctance and attempted his trademark footwork to line up a right hand. But age makes no exceptions, and his legs didn’t move like they once did. He began to tire, needing short pauses to catch his breath before diving back into the fray.

That fatigue was evident, but Pacquiao managed it well, using Barrios’ hesitations to grab moments of recovery. Eventually, though, that patience ran out. In the tenth round, Barrios snapped out of his trance and unleashed a flurry of punches, looking to seal the win.

But the rounds he gave away earlier told the story. The judges recognized that the legend still had some fire left and called it a majority draw, allowing the Mexican-American to keep his title – but also denying Pacquiao the chance to surpass George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins as the oldest world champion in boxing history.

What comes next for Manny isn’t clear. He’s expressed interest in a rematch for Barrios’ title – and Barrios, for his part, wants the same. One thing is certain: both fighters plan to come better prepared.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.