Manny Pacquiao fell agonisingly short in his bid to become world champion again at the age of 46, as he was held to a majority draw by WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Pacquiao (62-8-3, 38 KOs) retired after losing to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021, but decided to return to the sport, where the WBC granted him an immediate world title shot. Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) was upgraded to full WBC champion after a spell as interim ruler and was held to a draw by Abel Ramos in his first defence.
The crowd were at fever pitch for Pacquiao, and he started well, landing a body shot and showing good defence in the opening round.
The champion was showing signs of nerves, and was slow to come to life, allowing ‘Pacman’ to nick rounds with his speedy jab and movement.
The 30-year-old got his jab going in the fourth, but a combination of multiple punches from the eight-division world champion in the fifth got the champion’s attention.
Barrios’ jab was proving his most potent weapon, and by the seventh frame, he was constantly landing more and more stiff shots, slowing the Filipino great down, but the he responded with another blinding volley of shots in the eighth.
Barrios shaded rounds nine and ten, and after a pretty even penultimate round, the final three minutes saw the Texan rally again, his jab once more finding the mark.
Pacquiao’s energy didn’t slow though, and he remarkably made the final bell, where it looked like he had done enough to get his hand raised.
It wasn’t to be though, as one judged returned a 115-113 scorecard in Barrios’ favour, but two judges scored the bout a 114-114 draw.
Fundora halts Tszyu in rematch
At the head of the undercard, it was repeat and not revenge, as Sebastian Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) forced Tim Tszyu (25-3, 18 KOs) to retire after seven rounds to retain his WBC super welterweight.
Tszyu, who was beaten by split decision by Fundora last March, was dropped in the opening round from a crisp one-two combination from the champion.
‘The Towering Inferno’ was always a step ahead, forcing the Aussie’s corner to withdraw their man from battle.
Cruz sees off Salcido
Isaac Cruz took the WBC interim super lightweight title, as he dominated in a points win against late-replacement opponent Omar Salcido Gamez (20-3, 14 KOs).
Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs) was scheduled to face Angel Fierro in a rematch, but the Mexican withdrew prior to Friday’s weigh in.
Cruz took care of business with two scores of 99-89, and a third at 100-88 declaring him a comfortable winner.
Issac “Pitbull” Cruz really has that DOG in him! @premierboxing | #PacquiaoBarrios pic.twitter.com/XBJWQPQ0Z5
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) July 20, 2025
Figueroa battles past Gonzalez
At featherweight, Brandon Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs) got the better of Joet Gonzalez (27-5, 15 KOs) after twelve competitive rounds.
Two scores of 116-112, and one at 115-113 sealed victory for the Californian.
Remaining Undercard
In ten-rounders, Gary Russell Jr (32-2, 19 KOs) returned after over three years out, and he stopped Hugo Castaneda (15-3-1, 11 KOs) in the final round of their meeting at super featherweight.
Mark Magsayo (28-2, 18 KOs) took the vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title with a clear points win against Jorge Mata Cuellar (21-3-2, 13 KOs).
TOTAL DOMINATION. 💥 Russell drop Castaneda again in RD6!#PacquaioBarrios PRELIMS | LIVE NOW on Prime Video 👉 https://t.co/uGDWBMR1qw pic.twitter.com/XkaemB1GFw
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) July 19, 2025
Super bantamweight prospect David Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs) was a majority decision winner against Japan’s Kyonosuke Kameda (15-5-2, 9 KOs).
In eight round action, middleweight novice Eumir Felix Marcial (6-0, 4 KOs) took another early win, as he stopped Bernard Joseph (11-3-1, 5 KOs) in three rounds.
