46-year-old Manny Pacquiao delivers an age-defying performance
Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring at age 46 and delivered a remarkable performance against the 30-year-old WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas on Sunday. After the bout, Pacquiao said, 'I thought I won the fight. It was a close fight. He was very tough.'
Fight to the finish: The fight ended in a majority draw, with two judges scoring it 114-114 and a third giving Barrios a narrow 115-113 edge. CompuBox data showed Barrios landed 120 of 668 total punches to Pacquiao's 101 of 577 and Barrios landed more jabs (45-20) while Pacquiao led in power punches, 81-75. The draw marked Barrios's second straight draw and came nearly four years after Pacquiao's last professional fight. 'I had to find a way to finish the fight better but my opponent is so tough,' Pacquiao added. 'He threw a lot of good combinations and had defense.'
Muted fan enthusiasm: In the Philippines, public excitement was noticeably lower in the days before the fight compared to Pacquiao's previous bouts. Lifelong fan Dennis Marcaida, a resident of Cavite, explained to The Rebel Yellow that 'coming out of retirement after years of layoff is significant' and that Pacquiao's political career 'has altered his public image.' He added, 'We just quietly watched the stream online on our phones without making much noise. There's a different emotional attachment this time than in his more dominant years.'
What's next: Insider reports estimate around 1.3 million pay-per-view purchases for the event. Pacquiao, who was enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame last month, was guaranteed up to $5 million, while Barrios, despite holding the title, reportedly received a base purse of up to $1 million. With Barrios retaining his title, promoters have indicated talk of a rematch and both fighters have expressed interest in another bout. No official announcement has been made regarding Pacquiao's next match or retirement plans.
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