FOLLOWING a historic comeback to the boxing ring on July 19 in Las Vegas, Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao looked back on his bout with Mario Barrios with gratitude, despite the match ending in a majority draw.
It was Pacquiao’s first professional fight since 2021, when he was defeated by Yordenis Ugás, but he showed glimpses of his old form against the younger Barrios, who had to keep up with him for large parts of the fight.
In the end, however, Pacquiao fell just short, with judges giving Barrios the edge in the final three rounds. One judge had it 115-113 in favor of the Mexican-American, while the other two scored it 114-114, resulting in a majority draw.
Even so, though it’s been four years since his last pro fight, Pacquiao’s heart and passion for representing the Philippines in the sport he loves remain as strong as ever.
Grateful for the Return
After the match, Pacquiao voiced his disappointment with the result, feeling he had done enough to defeat Barrios. His frustration stemmed from not being able to secure the victory for the Filipino people.
“Tonight, I know many enjoyed the fight. I know the decision is not good for me. I’m sad, but I did my best. Having not fought for four years, I’m happy with my performance tonight,” Pacquiao said.
“I thought, after 12 rounds, I won the fight. My analysis was, I won eight rounds. I’m disappointed with the announcement that it is a draw,” the former Philippine Senator went on to explain.
On the other hand, the former and only eight-division world champion shared in a social media post his gratitude despite the outcome, even praising his opponent for putting on a great fight for the fans.
“Thank you Lord for keeping us safe in the ring. I want to thank my wife, my kids, my family, and everyone who supported me throughout this fight,” Pacquiao started his post. “To Mario Barrios, you are a true warrior. It was an honor to share the ring with you.”
“Even after all these years, I felt great in there. I thank God for the strength and grace to still compete at this level. To all my fans around the world, especially my fellow Filipinos, thank you for your love, prayers, and support.”
“This may not have been the result we wanted, but I gave my best and I will always fight with heart, for God, for family, and for country. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas. To God be all the glory,” he added.
Moving on from that, Pacquiao hasn’t revealed his next steps, though he previously suggested a possible return to the ring. For now, his priority is to rest and be with his family after the exhausting senatorial campaign and his recent bout.
