• Manny Pacquiao returned to boxing, fighting Mario Barrios to a majority draw.
• Barrios retained the WBC welterweight title, with one judge scoring the fight in his favor.
• The fight showcased Pacquiao's agility, though Barrios rallied in the final rounds.
• Both fighters expressed interest in a rematch following the bout.

Manny Pacquiao’s highly-anticipated comeback to boxing ended in a majority draw against Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, allowing Barrios to retain his WBC welterweight title. One judge scored the bout a 115-113 victory for Barrios, while the other two judges had it at 114-114. Pacquiao, fighting for the first time in nearly four years, showcased significant skills but ultimately fell short of victory as his younger opponent secured the draw in the later rounds, according to LA Times and South China Morning Post.

Pacquiao, now 62-9-2 professionally, had initially held an advantage, pushing Barrios and appearing competitive despite the age gap—Pacquiao is 46, while Barrios is 30. The Filipino legend expressed confidence post-fight, stating, "I thought I won the fight... It was a wonderful fight." Barrios responded respectfully, acknowledging Pacquiao’s toughness, "His stamina is crazy... he's still strong as hell," according to Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

Throughout the fight, CompuBox statistics showed Barrios landed 120 punches to Pacquiao's 101, demonstrating effective counter-punching that ultimately turned the tide in favor of the champion. Pacquiao's power punching remained formidable, landing 81 compared to Barrios's 75, highlighting a strong but incomplete performance, reports BBC and LA Times.

As both fighters left the ring, the potential for a rematch generated excitement among fans. Pacquiao indicated his desire to continue fighting, noting, "I want to leave a legacy." Barrios also expressed willingness for a rematch, stating, "I'll do the rematch. Absolutely," suggesting that the fight might not be the last chapter in this competitive rivalry, according to South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.