Pacquiao vs. Barrios ends in majority draw; fans outraged, many believe Pacquiao did enough to win

By Julian Ray Fortaleza

Las Vegas, July 19, 2025 – In a stunning return to the ring at age 46, Filipino legend and Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao squared off against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. What many expected to be a fairy‑tale comeback instead concluded in a razor‑thin majority draw—one judge scored it 115‑113 for Barrios, while the other two declared it 114‑114—allowing Barrios to retain his title.

Pacquiao delivered a vibrant performance, showing surprising speed and endurance, particularly in the first ten rounds. CompuBox stats reveal he landed 81 power punches to Barrios’s 75, while Barrios edged out in total punches (120–101) and jabs (45–20)  . Reports indicate Pacquiao led on all scorecards after Round 10, only for Barrios to take the final three rounds, tipping the scales into a draw.

Immediately after the decision was announced, a disappointed Pacquiao stated plainly:

“I thought I won the fight… it was a close fight. My opponent was very tough.”  

The crowd, more than 16,000 strong at the MGM Grand, erupted in boos at the verdict, a reaction echoed online. Fans, commentators, and fighters expressed outrage. As one fan exclaimed on X:

“Get fed that’s a disgusting scorecard Manny Pacquiao has just been fing robbed”  , and boxing veteran Shawn Porter accused the judges of being “incompetent”.

Despite the official draw, the majority of observers—both ringside and on social media—believed Pacquiao had done enough to win, with many describing the decision as a “robbery”.

Barrios, while relieved to retain his belt (improving to 29–2–2), acknowledged Pacquiao’s dominance early in the fight and hinted at embracing a rematch. Pacquiao, too, expressed strong interest in a rematch, citing that his camp suffered from a shortened training period due to commitments in the Philippines.

Below photo and video from ReyFort Media.