Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, 46, is demanding a rematch against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios after their highly anticipated fight at the MGM Grand ended in a majority draw.
Returning to the ring after a four-year retirement, Pacquiao, a recent International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, battled the 30-year-old Barrios for twelve rounds.
One judge scored the fight for Barrios (115-113), while two others had it even (114-114). “I thought I won the fight,” Pacquiao stated, confirming his desire for a rematch.
Despite his age, Pacquiao showed flashes of his old speed, particularly in the early rounds. He landed 101 punches, including 81 power punches, slightly fewer than Barrios’s 120 total punches but more power shots.
Barrios himself praised the veteran, noting his “crazy” stamina and “still strong as hell” power.
While Pacquiao’s manager, Sean Gibbons, suggested a “bigger name” for his next bout, the Filipino legend didn’t rule out a rematch with long-time rival Floyd Mayweather.
“If Mayweather comes out of retirement and signs the contract, we’ll fight,” Pacquiao declared.
