Latest news with #rematch
The Sun
4 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I thought I won' – Manny Pacquiao left stunned after he's denied history-making win vs Mario Barrios with crowd furious
MANNY PACQUIAO was left stunned after being denied a history-making victory against Mario Barrios - and the crowd were even more raging. The 46-year-old Filipino, making his return to the ring four years after retiring, was held to a majority draw at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. 3 3 One judge scored the fight 115-113 in Barrios' favour, while the other two scored it 114-114. Pacquiao was roared on by a pumping crowd as he took on younger and far fresher 30-year-old Barrios for the WBC welterweight world title. A Hall of Fame slot had already been secured, but further history was on the line with the chance to become the first from the inductees to win a world title. And with a place in the record books up for grabs, 'Pac Man' went toe-to-toe with Barrios, and many believed he did enough to win the bout. Pacquiao, who has won 12 world titles across eight weight divisions, was ahead on the judges' scorecards going into the 10th round but lost the last three. As a result, Barrios retained his titles but the iconic multi-weight champion, who said he just did two months training, wants a rematch. A confused Pacquiao said: "I thought I won the fight. It was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. It was a wonderful fight." Asked if he wants a rematch, he said: "Yes, of course." And while the crowd booed the decision, fans online were also fuming with the result, with many making their voices heard. One said: " Manny Pacquiao won that fight with ease. These judges are hot garbage." A second raged: "Pac Man was robbed." And another said: "Majority Draw is such BS. Pacquiao won that fight. Barrios even knew it." Barrios, who was a -275 favourite, hoped to bounce back from a split-decision draw in November against Abel Ramos, but didn't exactly come away with an convincing win in improving to 29-2-2. Meanwhile, Pacquiao's record sits at 62-9-2. Pacquiao, who had last fought in an exhibition last year, was enshrined into the International Boxing Hall of Fame last month. He was also trying to break his own record for oldest welterweight champion. Pacquiao was 40 when he emerged in 2019 split decision over Keith Thurman. From 2016 to 2022, Pacquiao also served as a senator in the Philippines, where he ran for president in 2022.
ABC News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Tim Tszyu's defeat to Sebastian Fundora shows he is no longer at a boxing crossroads
This isn't how it was meant to end for Tim Tszyu. His return to Las Vegas for the rematch against Sebastian Fundora, the site of his lowest ebb as a professional boxer, where he lost his long-sought world title, was supposed to be a return to triumph. Vengeance, redemption, and glory were the words being used in the lead-up. Instead, he heads home in defeat, heartbreak, and pain. Some fans may find the bloodied image of Tszyu refusing to back down almost a year-and-a-half ago hard to reconcile with the footage of the referee waving the fight away as Tszyu sat, immobile, on his stool at the end of the seventh round against the same opponent. Fans who watched the fight may find it even more baffling, given Tszyu had just fought his best round of the bout, clearly hurting Fundora with a monster overhand right. Every boxing fan in the world knows the immortal utterance of Panamanian legend Roberto Durán when he sat himself down in the eighth round of his rematch against Sugar Ray Leonard. "No más," Durán was reported to say — no more — before plonking himself in his corner. The accusation of quitting is the most heinous that can be levelled at a boxer — in Panama, there was disgust over how Durán quit. The Tszyu camp was at great pains to say that staying down was not Tim's decision. He never uttered the words himself, although his post-fight admission that he "just couldn't do it" tells its own story. Sometimes a look means more than two short words ever will. The vacancy behind the eyes, the blankness and heaviness weighing down on a set of shoulders that already carry such a burden imposed by a family history that is nigh-on impossible to match. If a corner's job sometimes is to save a boxer from themselves, then those closest to Tszyu are the only ones who know the truth. In Tszyu's case, that corner is his family. Saving him from potentially irreversible harm has to come first. Tszyu went to the hospital after the bout, raising questions about the long-term impacts the sport has on its practitioners. Never forget, a spectacle that battles humanity's primal instincts of self-preservation has real impacts on real people. And now, the question must be reasonably asked: does his corner prioritise his long-term health by asking him about retirement? Pre-fight, Tszyu had said how the bloody defeat to Fundora in March 2024 had changed him. "A big fear of mine was how I was gonna react to my first loss," Tszyu said in his dressing room at the MGM Grand. "Now I've had that, it's made me a different person, and now I've got this new level of hunger." The fact that Tszyu is different is now, sadly, without doubt. The seeds of this change came from the bloodbath of the T-Mobile Arena last year. But far more damaging was the savage beating at the hands of Bakhram Murtazaliev the following October. Back-to-back world title fights. Back-to-back defeats. And yet, the seeds of this fall were planted even earlier. Arguably, Tszyu's first foray into the United States delivered a warning that he simply refused to heed. Terrell Gausha provided a stern test of Tszyu's abilities offensively, while exposing his glaring deficiencies defensively. Tszyu was knocked down, for the first time in his career, in the very first round, as Gausha gratefully accepted the large, static target of Tszyu's head as a punch magnet. "In the first three rounds, everything's flash, everything's quick," Tszyu explained ringside after that fight in 2022. "You sorta blink and you're down and you think, f***, how did that happen?" Perhaps Tszyu wasn't given enough time to learn from that experience. Winning covers a multitude of sins. Tszyu's next opponents, Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo, and Brian Mendoza — all fighting in Australia — were bossed around the ring by a dominant fighter. The first time they met, even Fundora was awed by Tszyu's domineering presence in the ring, the stoic, terminator-style marching down of his rivals — a horrific vista in Fundora's case, amplified by Tszyu's wide eyes staring through a grotesque veil of streaming blood. But the four knockdowns against Murtazaliev were the straws that broke Tszyu's spirit. Cowed by the horror of that previous, bloody mess, one of the most fearless fighters around realised he was no longer the indestructible force of nature he believed himself to be. Murtazaliev simply confirmed it. No lateral movement. No stalking intensity. Playing the bogeyman doesn't scare the true dangers of this world. In the rematch, Fundora played his cards perfectly. The giant American used his extreme reach advantage to beat Tszyu to the punch. Working behind a jab that Tszyu was powerless to evade, that static head absorbed telling blows. Tszyu also failed to adapt to Fundora's southpaw stance, his only lateral movement going to the right, straight into that jab and leaving him vulnerable to the left hook. It was a glaring tactical error that has been exposed in three of his last four fights. So, where next can he go? "He's not finished at the top level," former world champion Shawn Porter was at pains to say on Main Event. "He can still get it done against elite guys; it's gonna happen back in Australia for a little while. "I don't believe Tim Tszyu is done on the world stage, primarily because he still fought very hard, very courageously, and we're now at the stage in the sport where it's about what you can bring to the stands, not what your status is." Never has a backhanded compliment stung more. A man who has taken pains to distance himself from his world champion father's achievements and stand on his own two feet, reduced to using his name to draw a crowd. Nevertheless, Tszyu is now most definitely at a crossroads. For many, there is only one sensible direction the newly-married 30-year-old should travel. No más. No more. Save yourself from the savagery of this brutal profession. Because while the other roads are still available — just look at how 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao performed in his 73rd career fight — there is too much doubt down those paths.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacquiao, 46, draws with Barrios in comeback fight
Manny Pacquiao said he wants a rematch against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios after missing out on the title on his return to boxing. The 46-year-old Filipino, making his return to the ring four years after retirement, was held to a majority draw by 30-year-old Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. One judge scored the fight 115-113 in Barrios' favour, while the other two scored it 114-114. Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles across eight weight divisions during his career, was ahead on the judges' scorecards going into the 10th round but lost the last three. "I thought I won the fight," Pacquiao said. "It was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. It was a wonderful fight." Asked if he wants a rematch, he said: "Yes, of course." Pacquiao is the oldest fighter to win the welterweight title, at the age of 40 in 2019. No fighter has won a major world title after being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. 'He's still strong as hell' That Pacquiao lasted the distance was a triumph in itself. In the early rounds he displayed speed and agility that belied his years, putting together vintage combinations. After a two-month training camp, Pacquiao appeared in better shape than in 2021, when he lost to Yordenis Ugas in his last fight. Pacquiao landed 101 of his 577 punches (17.5%) compared to Barrios' 120 from 658 (18.2%). Pacquiao landed 81 power punches 81 to Barrios' 75. Barrios' age advantage started to tell as the fight wore on, with Pacquiao slowing down towards the end of the fight. "His stamina is crazy," Barrios said. "He's still strong as hell and his timing is real. He's still a very awkward fighter to try to figure out." Pacquiao, who failed to win re-election as a senator in the Philippines government in May, was granted a title shot because of the WBC's rules on former champions coming out of retirement. He said he will seek a different fight if a rematch with Barrios is not agreed. "I only have two months' training," Pacquiao said. "What I need to do is continue my training. In a championship fight like this I should train four months, three months and a half. "But because of the election in the Philippines, I start late for my training, but it's OK. I love the Filipino people and I love to give honour to my country." Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode More boxing from the BBC Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Pacquiao, 46, draws with Barrios in comeback fight
Manny Pacquiao said he wants a rematch against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios after missing out on the title on his return to 46-year-old Filipino, making his return to the ring four years after retirement, was held to a majority draw by 30-year-old Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las judge scored the fight 115-113 in Barrios' favour, while the other two scored it who won 12 world titles across eight weight divisions during his career, was ahead on the judges' scorecards going into the 10th round but lost the last three."I thought I won the fight," Pacquiao said. "It was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. It was a wonderful fight."Asked if he wants a rematch, he said: "Yes, of course." Pacquiao is the oldest fighter to win the welterweight title, at the age of 40 in fighter has won a major world title after being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. 'He's still strong as hell' That Pacquiao lasted the distance was a triumph in itself. In the early rounds he displayed speed and agility that belied his years, putting together vintage a two-month training camp, Pacquiao appeared in better shape than in 2021, when he lost to Yordenis Ugas in his last landed 101 of his 577 punches (17.5%) compared to Barrios' 120 from 658 (18.2%). Pacquiao landed 81 power punches 81 to Barrios' age advantage started to tell as the fight wore on, with Pacquiao slowing down towards the end of the fight."His stamina is crazy," Barrios said."He's still strong as hell and his timing is real. He's still a very awkward fighter to try to figure out."Pacquiao, who failed to win re-election as a senator in the Philippine governament in May, was granted a title shot because of the WBC's rules on former champions coming out of said he will seek a different fight if a rematch with Barrios is not agreed."I only have two months' training," Pacquiao said."What I need to do is continue my training. In a championship fight like this, I should train four months, three months and a half, so that the fight would be good."But because of the election in the Philippines, I start late for my training, but it's OK. I love the Filipino people and I love to give honour to my country."
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Tim Tszyu's crushing dressing room scene as boxing career thrown ‘has to be in doubt'
How can Tim Tszyu possibly bounce back to boxing superstardom following another brutal loss to Sebastian Fundora? The Australian's dream of exacting revenge in their rematch was dashed when his corner asked the referee to stop the fight after the seventh round of a brutal war at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Fundora knocked Tszyu down in the first round and the challenger was playing catch up from there — but he got hammered with Fundora's fists every time he got close enough to land a punch on the 197cm lanky American. Tszyu bravely fought his way back into the fight but needed a knockdown or knockout if he was to win. Ultimately his corner decided he had copped too much punishment to go any further. The result means Tszyu's record now reads 25-3, less than 18 months after it was a perfect 24-0 as he geared up for a fight against Keith Thurman. When Thurman pulled out due to injury, Tszyu took on the challenge of fighting Fundora, losing a 12-round bloody war after a rogue elbow opened up a massive wound on his head. He then got stopped by Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando, in a fight where he came out swinging way too hard, and looked spooked from the previous fight. Now Tszyu will have to take time away from the ring to regroup, swallow his pride and fight lesser names on home soil before he is even mentioned in world title fight discussions again. Former world champion Shawn Porter was stunned on Main Event's coverage, and sounded genuinely fearful that Tszyu would never make it back to a Vegas blockbuster, despite praising his courage against Fundora. 'It's really hard not to feel this train ride come to a halt,' a gutted Porter said on Main Event. 'Doesn't mean it's going to end, it's just slowed down. I don't believe Tim Tszyu has fought his way out of title contention. It just doesn't go through Sebastian Fundora. 'He's not finished at the top level. He'll more than likely never see Sebastian Fundora again. He can still get it done, it's going to have to be in Australia for a little while. 'When he comes back, there's no telling who that name is going to be. I don't believe Tim is done on the world stage, primarily because he fought hard and courageously. 'And we're now in the sport where it's who you bring to the stands, not what your wins and losses are. 'I don't know, I really don't (if Tszyu can get back to world title fights). I think he performed at a level that dictates he can come back to this level. We just don't know what the timeline is.' Boxing guru Dan Rafael posted on X: 'Tszyu's career has to be in doubt after that.' There were heartbreaking scenes as Tszyu made his way back to the dressing room, with broadcast cameras capturing the 30-year-old getting emotional as he looked at himself in the mirror in a raw moment that painted a bleak picture about where his career is at right now. There will be all manner of questions running through Tszyu's head: Why oh why did Thurman have to get injured last year? Am I still a world title calibre fighter who just ran into a boxing anomaly in Fundora? Am I still good enough to be world champion? Will I ever be on a Las Vegas card again? Does my future lie in domestic fights in Sydney, Newcastle and the Gold Coast? Is my legacy cooked, am I destined to just be Kostya's son? The likes of Michael Zerafa will come calling, and that will be a blow to Tszyu's ego, but he will likely fight international opponents of a lower standard, like American Joey Spencer, who he beat in Newcastle in April. The Courier Mail's Peter Badel said the entire landscape had changed for Tszyu, who had been due to finally fight Thurman later this year. 'I think the worst thing now would be to jump in with Keith Thurman,' Badel said. 'That was supposed to be the next opponent if he won today. There was talk about this year, I think that would be a disaster if he fought Keith Thurman. 'It would end his career. I think Keith Thurman would put him away. Now it's got to be delicate, slow. 'Put him in cotton wool, give him some time out. Bring him back against some lower ranked international opponents. I think he's better than domestic fighters, but maybe get his ranking up against international fighters and slowly rebuild.' Two years ago, the world was at Tszyu's feet after he rocked Tony Harrison's chin in Sydney in what remains the high point of his career. But such is the fickle world of boxing, an undisputed world title fight against Jermell Charlo slipped away and Thurman's withdrawal made him face Fundora, an opponent who proved an impossible puzzle to solve for Tim. Porter questioned the preparation from Tszyu's camp and the tactics used against a giant super welterweight fighter. 'You find a no-name 6foot1 guy, you do it in Australia, you get him acclimated to fighting a taller opponent, then you try to find a 6 foot 3, 6 foot 4 guy, you inch your way up to a guy like that,' Porter said. 'Sparring is not enough, especially if you don't have a fighter that can emulate Sebastian Fundora. 'On top of that, they played the outside game too much. His natural reaction was to pull back, and when you do that boxing you put yourself in danger. That was the thing to me that really needs to be cleaned up.' Badel added: 'If Tim wants to rebuild his career, and it could be a one or two year rebuild, he needs to fix his defence. This is the fourth time he's gone down in the first or second round. 'Wade Ryan dropped him early in his career, Terrell Gausha dropped him, (Bakhram) Murtazaliev dropped him and now this. He's got to fix his defensive technicalities if he wants to survive in this sport.'
