Mario Barrios earned his title back, but Manny Pacquiao made a roaring comeback. At 46, the Filipino boxer made his highly anticipated return to professional boxing after nearly four years of inactivity, on 19th July 2025 at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.
The long-awaited showdown concluded in a majority draw, allowing Barrios to retain his WBC Welterweight World Title. The crowd, largely pro-Pacquiao, reacted with disappointment, as many thought Pacquiao had done enough to win.
[Trending] Manny Pacquiao Returns to the Ring at 46
Manny Pacquiao returned to professional boxing after a four-year retirement with an aim of becoming boxing’s oldest welterweight champion. Just last month, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Pacquiao had a great start, showcasing his three decades of experience and significant energy, from the 1st to the 9th round. Until the 9th round, he was leading on the judges’ scorecards. His speed and power punches were highly notable, delivering more powerful shots than Barrios.
Barrios, 30, following the 9th round, fought back hard, launching a strong rally in the final three rounds. Judges then gave these closing rounds to Barrios, allowing him to close the gap on points.
The scorecards displayed Judge Max DeLuca: 115-113 for Barrios, and Judges Tim Cheatham & Steve Weisfeld: 114-114 (draw), giving a straight draw win to Barrios.
With Barrios’ retention of the WBC welterweight title, Pacquiao’s dream was left unfulfilled.
[Post-Fight Reaction] Respect and Rivalry: Both Fighters Open to a Rematch
During the post-fight press conference, Pacquiao said the result would be on his side.
“I thought that after the 12 rounds, I won the fight like — my analysis is I won 8-4,” Pacquiao said.
He added, “ I need to continue my training for longer going into a championship fight. Because of the election, I started late, but it’s OK. Of course, I’d like a rematch. I want to leave a legacy and make the Filipino people proud.
I hope this is an inspiration to boxers that if you have discipline and work hard, you can still fight at this age.”
Manny Pacquiao proved that age is just a number in his comeback fight against Mario Barrios 🙌 pic.twitter.com/FR3wVDGMZw
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) July 20, 2025
Mario Barrios is currently 30 years old and stands 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) tall, making him 16 years younger and six inches taller than Pacquiao. After the fight, the American boxer shared his joy and respect after going toe-to-toe with the legendary Manny Pacquiao.
Barrios said, “It was an honor to share the ring with him. This is by far the biggest event I’ve had to date, and we came in here and left everything in the ring. I have nothing but respect for Manny. His stamina is crazy. He’s still strong as hell, and his timing is real. He’s still a very awkward fighter to try to figure out.”
Both sides showed interest in a rematch when asked about it.
Pankaj Kapoor’s POV
It’s remarkable how Manny Pacquiao still carries such incredible enthusiasm for the fight, even at 46. Although the result didn’t go his way this time, he always continues to set an inspiring record—hats off to him for showing such passion and determination in his late forties.
