Manny Pacquiao's comeback falls short as Mario Barrios retains WBC welterweight title in majority draw
Share and Follow

LAS VEGAS — Manny Paquiao pushed back against his doubters, the odds and even Father Time on Saturday night, but in the end fell just short on judges’ scorecards as Mario Barrios escaped with a majority draw to retain the WBC welterweight championship.

Two judges scored the bout a draw, and Barrios was given a 115-113 victory on the third card.

Pacquiao, enshrined into the International Boxing Hall of Fame last month, was trying to break his own record for oldest welterweight champion. He was 40 when he emerged in 2019 split decision over Keith Thurman. This also was his first appearance in the ring in nearly four years for the 46-year-old Filipino, a loss by unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugás.

Barrios, a 30-year-old from San Antonio, was a -275 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook. He hoped to bounce back from a split-decision draw on Nov. 15 against Abel Ramos, but didn’t exactly come away with an emphatic victory in improving to 29-2-2. The heavily pro-Pacquiao crowd loudly booed the decision.

Pacquiao’s resume includes 12 world championships in eight divisions. He now is 62-9-2 and said right after the fight this likely wasn’t his last.

Sebastian Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) retained his WBC super welterweight title when Tim Tszyu (25-3) didn’t come out for the eighth round in the co-main event. Fundora floored Tszyu with a left hand in the first round and dominated the action with 118 power punches, according to Compubox, by repeatedly backing down the Australian.

“I’m the bigger guy,” said Fundora, who led 69-63 on all three judges’ cards. “Everyone says I’m a bully in the ring, so I thought I should start really bullying these guys. I just kept working on aggression my whole career and we’ve just been adding.”

It was a big week for Fundora, who was accepted into Harvard and then won the rematch with Tszyu. The first fight on March 30, 2024 was much closer, with Fundora emerging with a split-decision victory.

The Coachella, California, resident also had been the WBO champion, but that organization stripped him of his belt for not fighting mandatory challenger Xander Zayas.

Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Pre-teen charged with attempted murder in stabbing of boy, 12, inside NYC playground: cops

Pre-Teen Arrested in NYC Playground Stabbing Incident Involving 12-Year-Old Boy

A shocking incident unfolded at a Brooklyn playground, where a 12-year-old boy…
Thousands gather as Bondi Beach reopens, commemorating victims of Hanukkah attack

Massive Turnout at Bondi Beach Reopening Honors Victims of Hanukkah Attack

In the wake of a tragic mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration…
Never-before-seen photos reveal inside Epstein's Manhattan lair

Exclusive Peek Inside Epstein’s Secretive Manhattan Residence with Newly Unveiled Photos

Haunting photographs have emerged, providing an unprecedented look inside the notorious Manhattan…
Conan O'Brien 'stopped party guests from calling 911' on Nick Reiner

Conan O’Brien Prevents Guests from Dialing 911 in Incident Involving Nick Reiner

Conan O’Brien found himself in the middle of a tense situation during…
State Attorney's Office to seek death penalty for suspect in deadly Putnam County stabbing

State Attorney’s Office Pursues Death Penalty for Suspect in Fatal Putnam County Stabbing Incident

State Attorney R.J. Larizza emphasized that the “savage and unrelenting nature of…
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Brown and MIT shooting suspect, Nick Reiner's lawyer, Brian Walshe's sentence

Autopsy Reveals MIT Shooting Suspect’s Mysterious Death Days Before Discovery

The individual accused of the fatal shooting at Brown University and the…
Friend of Brown shooter reveals he saw as classmates 'slaves'

Revealing the Mindset: Shooter’s Friend Discusses Disturbing Views on Classmates

A confidant of the gunman behind the tragic shooting at Brown University…
Gisele Bundchen weds Joaquim Valente 3 years after Tom Brady divorce

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen Ties the Knot with Joaquim Valente, 3 Years Post Tom Brady Split

Gisele Bündchen has embarked on a new chapter in her life, celebrating…