Why Manny Pacquiao still won even without the Belt

It may have ended in a majority draw, but make no mistake: Manny Pacquiao proved once again why he is one of the greatest boxers of all time.

At 46 years old, Pacquiao stepped back into the ring after years of retirement, not just to chase glory, but to test the limits of human possibility—and he nearly pulled off the impossible. He didn’t lose to a younger, stronger Mario Barrios. 

He stood toe-to-toe with the reigning WBC welterweight champion, frustrated him with footwork, confused him with rhythm, and at times, clearly outboxed him with the legendary precision we’ve come to expect from the only eight-division world champion in history.

While one judge narrowly scored it for Barrios (115-113), the two others saw what millions did: a fight that was too close to call. 114-114. A draw. But in truth, Pacquiao's performance meant far more than what the numbers on the judges' cards reflected.

Here was a man nearly two decades older than his opponent, outworking, outsmarting, and outlasting a fighter in his prime. Pacquiao didn’t just hold his own—he made Barrios dig deep just to escape with his title intact.

Even Barrios admitted he was awed.

“That’s crazy — his stamina, he can still crack and he’s still strong as hell… He was still a very awkward fighter to figure out.”

That wasn’t just respect—it was recognition of what the world saw: Manny Pacquiao still belongs on boxing’s grandest stage.

Pacquiao may not have officially claimed the WBC belt that night—but his performance was a resounding statement. He showed the heart, skill, and championship mettle of a fighter half his age, and left the MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd in awe.

This wasn’t just a fight—it was a celebration of greatness, of resilience, of what it means to chase history even when the odds are stacked against you.

And if this fight proved anything, it’s this:

Manny Pacquiao is not done. The dream of becoming the oldest world champion in boxing history is still alive.

And the boxing world would be wise not to bet against him.