Manny Pacquiao turns back clock but settles for draw with Mario Barrios | Boxing

As the last bell sounded, Manny Pacquiao had done everything but winning the fight. He overflowed, outclassed and beaten a 16 -year -old champion his junior on Saturday evening in Las Vegas, but the dashboards told another story.

The fiery return of Pacquiao in the ring after a four -year layout ended with a majority draw against the title holder WBC Welterweight Mario Barrios. A judge marked him 115-113 for the barrios, while the other two had 114-114, allowing the 30-year-old Texan to keep his belt by the narrowest margins. (The Guardian scored 115-113 for Pacquiao.)

“I thought I had won the fight,” said Pacquiao afterwards. “It was a narrow fight. My opponent was very difficult. It was a wonderful fight. ”

The result was greeted by vigorous hoots of a pro-Pacquiao crowd inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena, who had spent a large part of the evening to roar their support for the 46-year-old man from the Philippines. And for a large part of the fight, it seemed to be about to see history again.

From the opening circle, Pacquiao fought with a surprising emergency, using angles and punch of volume and its signature hand speed to compensate for the height of Barrios, young people and the advantage of four inches. He won the first frame behind a burst of straight blows and left -handers, causing noisy cheers to each punch landed.

Although Barrios began to find a house for his blow and his counter-hand in the second, Pacquiao regained control in the third with a clearer rhythm and faster hands, dictating the pace of the action. He buzzed Barrios in the sixth with a left hand, then still a few moments later with another shot in advance which caught the champion square. “His endurance, he could still crack,” said Barrios. “He is always strong like hell. His timing, his rhythm, everything. He was always a very clumsy fighter to try to understand.”

The performance of Pacquiao, especially in the footsteps of six to nine, had the feeling of temporal deformation. He has zipped and out of reach with a fluid and mixed in combination like a man half of his age. At the end of the 10th, Pacquiao seemed to be well in advance on the dashboards. Even Barrios seemed to recognize that he had to dig deeply to fill the gap. “Not necessarily that it was moving away from me,” said Barrios. “I just knew that I had to try to intensify it to really solidify a victory.”

On his credit, Barrios did exactly that. He clearly won the 11th, winning his best night combination and forcing Pacquiao to a rare retirement sequence. In the 12th, he kept the high tempo, exchanging shots and finishing hard – just enough to sweep the last three laps of the three official cards and keep the WBC title version at 147 LB. “I thought I had always removed it,” said Barrios. “But I always tip Manny. It was an absolute honor to share the ring with him, someone with so much experience that has accomplished so much in this sport. We left everything in the ring. Nothing but love and respect. “

The fight marked the first of Pacquiao since his unanimous loss of decision against Yordenis Ugás in 2021. He was inducted into the temple of renowned international boxing last month, and few people expected what he competes again at this level, and even less to push a defendant in reigning. “I am more experienced,” said Pacquiao. “I am a more tactical fighter than before. I am not as negligent as I was when I was young. Now I’m more careful. “

This maturity showed in his measured leg game, his selective bursts and his veteran, including moments when he seemed to arbitrate the fight himself. But even Pacquiao admitted that his return camp had been rushed. “I only had two months of training,” he said. “What I have to do is continue my training. In a championship fight like this, I should train for four months, [or at least] Three and a half months. But because of the elections in the Philippines, I started late. But it’s okay. I love the Philippin people and I like to honor my country. »»

Pacquiao, whose professional record is now at 62–9-3 with 39 KNOCKOUTS, said he would consider “absolutely” “to fight again and clearly indicated that he wanted a revenge match.” Yes, of course “, he said.” It is the only inheritance that I can leave behind. To inspire you to the Philippin people and be proud or not to be proud. “

Barrios, whose big book goes to 29–2-2 after a second consecutive match match, seemed open to the idea. “Absolutely. It was huge for boxing,” he said. “What me and were able to bring here today, I would like to start again.”

Four decades after its professional beginnings, Pacquiao has once again proven that age is only a certain number and that grandeur, even in a draw, always carries the power to inspire. “It’s an inspiration for old boxers,” said Pacquiao. “If you have a discipline and hard work, you can always fight. I am so grateful to God, because without God, Manny Pacquiao is not there. God is the source of all the strength and good health that I have at the moment.”