Pacquiao made a spectacular US debut at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on 23/6/2001, securing a sixth-round TKO victory over Lehlo Ledwaba to claim the IBF bantamweight title.

Manny Pacquiao (right) throws a punch at Mario Barrios during their WBC welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, USA on 19/7/2025. Photo: AP

Returning to Las Vegas 24 years later and four years after retiring, the Filipino boxer aimed to break his own record as the oldest welterweight champion, a feat he achieved at age 40 by defeating Keith Thurman for the WBA title in 2019. Honored at the International Boxing Hall of Fame on 8/6, Pacquiao sought to become the first fighter to win a world title after such recognition.

Pacquiao displayed his signature agility, quick punches, and resilience. He came close to victory but ultimately fell short. Pacquiao led on all three scorecards entering the 10th round, but Barrios secured the judges' favor in the final three rounds, retaining his WBC title.

Mario Barrios celebrates after the judges' decision, retaining his WBC welterweight title. Photo: AP

After 12 rounds without a knockout, one judge scored the fight 115-113 for Barrios, while the other two scored it 114-114, resulting in a draw. The outcome disappointed the crowd of 13,107, mostly Pacquiao fans.

"I thought I won," the 46-year-old said after the fight. "It was a tough fight. He was a tough opponent."

In the early rounds, Pacquiao showed glimpses of his prime, a stark contrast to his lackluster performance in his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugas. The only boxer in history to win world titles in eight different weight classes, Pacquiao energized the MGM Grand with his trademark combinations, agile footwork, and powerful jabs.

However, Pacquiao's stamina waned from the middle rounds onward. Barrios increased the pressure in the later rounds but couldn't knock out his older opponent.

Manny Pacquiao (right) and Mario Barrios pose for a photo after their fight. Photo: AP

CompuBox statistics highlighted the close nature of the bout. Pacquiao landed 101 of 577 punches (17.5%), while Barrios landed 120 of 658 (18.2%). Pacquiao landed 20 of 318 jabs (6.3%), compared to Barrios' 45 of 423 (10.6%). Pacquiao connected with 81 power punches (31.3%), while Barrios landed 75 (31.9%).

"I hope this inspires other fighters that if you have discipline and train hard, you can still compete at this age," Pacquiao stated.

Barrios expressed admiration for the Filipino legend and a desire for a rematch. "His conditioning is insane," the 34-year-old admitted. "Pacquiao is still very strong, unpredictable, and has great timing."

Pacquiao began his professional boxing career in 1995, winning his first world title, the WBC flyweight championship, in December 1998 against Chatchai Sasakul of Thailand.

Besides his highly publicized nine-figure fight against Floyd Mayweather in 2015, Pacquiao has achieved numerous records throughout his nearly 30-year career. He is the only eight-division world champion in boxing history and is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Mexican-American boxer Barrios boasts a 41-4 record, with 30 knockouts. He won the interim WBC welterweight title against Yordenis Ugas in September 2023 and became the official champion in June 2024. He previously held the WBA (Regular) super lightweight title from 2019 to 2021.

Hong Duy