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Controversial Verdict: The Shocking Result Of Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios On His Return

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The highly-anticipated return of boxing legend Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao on July 19, 2025, ended not with a bang, but with a deeply controversial whimper against WBC Welterweight World Champion Mario "El Azteca" Barrios. The question "who won Pacquiao vs. Barrios" has a single, official answer that has sparked furious debate across the boxing world: a Majority Draw. This result allowed the younger champion, Barrios, to retain his title in a bout that many observers and pundits felt the 46-year-old Pacquiao had clearly done enough to win. The contentious scorecards and the incredible performance of the eight-division world champion in his comeback fight are the central focus of the boxing landscape today.

The 12-round contest, billed as "Pacquiao Returns," took place at the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The official scores were 115-113 for Barrios from one judge (Max De Luca), overruled by two 114-114 scores from Tim Cheatham and Steve Weisfeld, resulting in the majority draw. This outcome is a crucial piece of recent boxing history, as it marks the third draw in Pacquiao's storied professional career, preventing him from breaking his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion. The fight's aftermath is dominated by discussions of a potential rematch and the legacy of the Filipino Senator.

Fighter Biographies: Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios

To fully appreciate the magnitude of this championship bout, it is essential to understand the careers of the two men who met in the ring.

Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao

  • Full Name: Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao
  • Nickname: PacMan
  • Born: December 17, 1978, in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines
  • Age (at the time of fight): 46
  • Stance: Southpaw
  • Professional Record: 62 Wins (39 KOs), 8 Losses, 3 Draws
  • Key Achievements: Only eight-division world champion in boxing history. Held major world titles from Flyweight to Light Middleweight. Politician, currently serving as a Senator of the Philippines.
  • Last Fight Before Barrios: Loss via unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugás (August 2021).

Mario "El Azteca" Barrios

  • Full Name: Mario Thomas Barrios
  • Nickname: El Azteca
  • Born: May 18, 1995, in San Antonio, Texas, USA
  • Age (at the time of fight): 30
  • Stance: Orthodox
  • Professional Record: 29 Wins (18 KOs), 2 Losses, 2 Draws
  • Key Achievements: Current WBC Welterweight World Champion (retained title against Pacquiao). Former WBA (Regular) Light Welterweight Champion.
  • Last Fight Before Pacquiao: Won the vacant WBC Welterweight title against Yordenis Ugás.

The Scorecards and The Controversial Majority Draw

The official result of the July 19, 2025, contest was a majority draw, which is a rare and often contentious verdict in professional boxing. A majority draw occurs when two of the three judges score the fight a draw, and the third judge scores it for one of the fighters. In this case, the breakdown was as follows:

  • Judge Max De Luca: 115-113 for Mario Barrios
  • Judge Tim Cheatham: 114-114 Draw
  • Judge Steve Weisfeld: 114-114 Draw

The 115-113 card in favor of Barrios was immediately scrutinized, as many ringside commentators and fans felt that Pacquiao’s superior counter-punching and effective aggression in the middle rounds should have secured him the victory. The sentiment that "Pacquiao got robbed" circulated widely on social media immediately after the announcement.

Pacquiao, despite his age and a four-year layoff from the sport, showed flashes of his legendary speed and footwork. He was successful in landing sharp, powerful combinations, particularly his signature straight left hand. Barrios, the naturally larger and younger man, utilized his size and a high volume of jabs to disrupt the veteran’s rhythm and maintain distance. He was the reigning champion, defending the WBC welterweight title he had recently won.

Punch Stats and The Fight Breakdown

Analysis of the CompuBox statistics reveals a fascinating, yet contradictory, picture of the 12-round battle. While the numbers can be interpreted in various ways, they highlight the tactical struggle between the two welterweights.

The Statistical Edge

According to some initial reports of the CompuBox data, Barrios landed a higher total number of punches (92 total punches landed) compared to Pacquiao (77 total punches landed).

  • Barrios' Strategy: "El Azteca" threw a significant number of jabs (423 total jabs thrown), even though only a small percentage landed. This high volume of jabs was crucial in controlling the distance, keeping the elusive Pacquiao off-balance, and scoring points with the judges, particularly in the later rounds.
  • Pacquiao's Strategy: "PacMan" was the more effective power puncher. He relied on bursts of speed and his world-class counter-punching ability. His power punch accuracy was impressive, landing approximately 31% of his power shots (81 landed power punches) compared to Barrios’s 32% (75 landed power punches), according to one breakdown.

The key to the draw verdict lies in the close nature of the rounds. Rounds were often split between Barrios's consistent, if less damaging, output and Pacquiao's explosive, cleaner-landing flurries. The judges ultimately valued Barrios's championship-level consistency and ring generalship over Pacquiao's moments of vintage brilliance.

The Aftermath and Future Implications

The immediate fallout from the PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view event has been dominated by calls for a rematch. Both fighters expressed a willingness to run it back, though their immediate post-fight assessments differed.

Pacquiao’s Reaction: The Filipino icon was gracious but firm in his belief that he had won the fight. "I thought I won the fight," Pacquiao stated in the ring, expressing a desire for a definitive conclusion. His performance at 46 years old was a testament to his incredible physical conditioning and enduring skill, proving that he can still compete at the elite level of the welterweight division.

Barrios’s Reaction: Mario Barrios, who retained his WBC title, acknowledged the difficulty of the fight but felt he deserved the decision. His ability to withstand Pacquiao's best shots and maintain his composure under pressure was a hallmark of his performance. Retaining the WBC belt against a legend like Pacquiao, even by a draw, significantly boosts his standing in the 147-pound class.

For the boxing world, the majority draw opens up several potential future matchups. A rematch between Pacquiao and Barrios is an obvious, high-demand option. Alternatively, Barrios could face other top contenders in the welterweight division, such as Errol Spence Jr. or Terence Crawford, should those super-fights materialize. For Manny Pacquiao, the draw proves he is still a box-office attraction and a serious contender, setting the stage for one final, definitive chapter in his unparalleled career.

who won pacquiao vs barrios
who won pacquiao vs barrios

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