UK
On Saturday night in Las Vegas, the once-retired boxing legend Manny Pacquiao was denied the opportunity to make history by challenging current champion Mario Barrios for his welterweight belt. When the ring announcer declared, "The decision is a majority draw," the majority of the 13,000 spectators crammed into the MGM Grand Garden Arena booed loudly, feeling similarly defrauded.
The 46-year-old Pacquiao, who retired four years ago with a 29-2-2 record and 18 knockouts, took the lead early in his return effort by flurrying Barrios with fast punches.
“I thought I won the fight,” he said afterward.
All three judges had different opinions. Barrios won the bout 115-113 thanks to one score, but the other two judges gave it a 114-114 tie.
Manny Down!
Pacquiao was proclaimed the winner by the judges before the tenth round. But in the last three, Barrios hit 120 of his 658 blows (18.2%), while the previous champion only landed 101 of his 577 shots (17.5%). While Barrios used his jab well and countered, Pacquiao had the advantage in power punches (81 to 75), but many of them were unclear or ineffective.
By raising both fighters' hands in triumph, the ring announcer attempted to placate the irate spectators. But once he explained the draw's ramifications, the jeering intensified: "And, of course, in that case, the champion retains his title."
If Pacquiao prevailed, he would have become the first fighter to win a major world title after being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the second-oldest boxer in history to win a major world title, following Bernard Hopkins, who did it in 2014 at the age of 49.
In 2019, Pacquaio, who has won 12 world boxing titles in eight weight divisions over the course of 26 years, became the oldest fighter to win the welterweight belt at the age of 40.
After losing to the current welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas at T-Mobile Arena in 2021, Pacquaio had not fought since.
