Pacquiao after falling brief in his try to make historical past: “I believe I gained the battle”

The mythical Filipino Boxer Manny Pacquiao did not change into the second one longest international champion within the historical past of boxing, when he attracts on Saturday evening in entrance of Mexico American Mario Barrios, present monarch of the welter weight of the International Boxing Council (CMB).

The battle, held on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, led to a majority draw, with two judges marking 114-114 and a 3rd giving the victory to Barrios with a 115-113 card. The situation used to be symbolic: it used to be in that very same enclosure the place, 24 years in the past, Pacquiao debuted in the USA.

At 46, Pacquiao confirmed a very good bodily situation and starred in a aggressive battle. Right through the 12 attacks, he attached 81 strokes of energy, simply above 75 neighborhoods, even though the champion used to be more practical within the overall of attached blows: 120 via 101, together with a transparent merit in jabs (45 in opposition to 20).

Mario Barrios, left, fights with Manny Pacquiao in a boxing battle for the Welter weight identify on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Picture/John Locher)

(John Locher / Related Press)

“I believe I gained the battle,” Pacquiao stated after the battle, in what used to be his go back to the hoop after 4 years of inaction. “It used to be an overly closed battle. I labored onerous, I saved disciplined and I’m all the time are compatible for this.”

Barrios, 16 years older than Pacquiao and with a outstanding bodily merit (6.5 inches extra stature and four of achieve), the battle ended, profitable the final 3 attacks at the playing cards.

“I knew I needed to lift the extent if I sought after to win,” Barrios stated after conserving his identify. “The plan used to be to press it and make it really feel your age, however your legs are nonetheless intact.”

With this outcome, Pacquiao helps to keep his legend alive, even though the document as the second one maximum veteran international champion in historical past will proceed with out his title, for now.