Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao (47) could not determine a winner or loser in his comeback fight after four years, ending in a draw against the current champion who is 17 years younger.
Pacquiao recorded a draw against current champion Mario Barrios (30) in the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight championship held in Las Vegas, U.S., on the 20th (Korean time).
Two of the three scoring judges had it as a draw, while the remaining judge scored it as a 115-113 victory for Barrios. However, the final result was 'a majority decision draw.'
Pacquiao announced his retirement after losing to Yordenis Ugas in an August 2021 World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title match. He stepped into politics in the Philippines before making his comeback fight after about four years.
Locally, there have been evaluations that Pacquiao showcased his unblemished skills despite the hiatus. Although he was pushed back by Barrios' attacks early in the fight, he altered the flow of the match starting in the seventh round with his agility and experience. However, Barrios raised his aggression toward the end, making it a evenly contested match.
The Associated Press noted that their own scoring results suggested Pacquiao was actually ahead. According to 'CompuBox', which provides boxing statistics, Pacquiao had fewer total punches at 101 to 120, but led in strong punches at 81 to 75.
With this match, Pacquiao's record is now 62 wins, 2 draws, and 9 losses, while Barrios' record stands at 29 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses.
After the match, Pacquiao said, 'I thought I won,' when asked whether he would continue his active career, he replied, 'I think so.' Barrios remarked, 'It was an honor to meet him in the ring. His stamina is extraordinary. He is still incredibly strong and a difficult fighter to read.'