Corridor of Famer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and WBC Welterweight World Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios fought to a majority draw after 12 tense back-and-forth rounds in the primary occasion of a PBC Pay-Per-View occasion on Prime Video Saturday night time from the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment in Las Vegas.
Trying to break his personal file because the oldest welterweight world champion in boxing historical past, Pacquiao got here up simply brief as two judges scored the struggle 114-114, with one decide handing over a 115-113 rating for Barrios.
“I assumed I gained the struggle,” mentioned Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs).” It was an in depth struggle. He was very powerful. I labored exhausting and stayed disciplined. I all the time maintain my physique in form in order that I can do that.”
“It was an honor to share the ring with him,” mentioned Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs). “That is by far the largest occasion I’ve needed to date and we got here in right here and left every thing within the ring. I’ve nothing however respect for Manny.”
The CompuBox stats mirrored the shut nature of the struggle, with Pacquiao holding an 81-75 edge in energy punches, whereas Barrios landed 45 jabs to Pacquiao’s 20. With a capability crowd on their toes for each shot landed, Pacquiao confirmed early that he was moving into the ring a greater fighter than when he final competed in 2021.
“His stamina is loopy,” mentioned Barrios. “He’s nonetheless sturdy as hell and his timing is actual. He’s nonetheless a really awkward fighter to strive to determine.”
In spherical eight, Pacquiao had his greatest second of the struggle when he introduced his legion of followers to their toes with a collection of huge left hooks proper earlier than the bell. With the momentum seemingly in Pacquiao’s favor, Barrios dug deep and gained the final three rounds on all the judges’ playing cards to earn the draw and retain his title.
“I needed to discover a option to end the struggle higher however my opponent is so powerful,” mentioned Pacquiao. “He threw numerous good mixtures and had protection. It was a tricky struggle.”
“I didn’t suppose the struggle was getting away from me, however I knew I needed to step it as much as solidify a win,” mentioned Barrios. “The plan was to press him and attempt to make him really feel previous. However he’s nonetheless bought good legs.”
After the struggle, each fighters expressed their curiosity in a possible championship rematch.
“I must proceed my coaching for longer going right into a championship struggle,” mentioned Pacquiao. “Due to the election I began late, nevertheless it’s okay. After all I’d like a rematch. I need to depart a legacy and make the Filipino folks proud.”
“I’ll do the rematch,” mentioned Barrios. “Completely. This was enormous for boxing. I’d like to do it once more.”
The co-main occasion was a rematch of 2024’s bloodiest struggle and noticed Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) retain his WBC Tremendous Welterweight World Championship by defeating former champion Tim Tszyu (25-3, 18 KOs) by way of TKO after spherical seven. Following an electrical spherical that noticed each males land enormous punches, Tszyu’s nook waived off the struggle between rounds.
“I dropped him in spherical one and I remembered that my dad mentioned all week that he thinks we might get him out of there and that’s what we did,” mentioned Fundora.
“He’s one powerful man,” mentioned Tszyu. “I attempted to provide it every thing. However I simply couldn’t do it. He’s one of the best 154-pounder on the earth proper now.”
After their first struggle noticed Tszyu struggle by means of one of many grizzliest cuts in current boxing historical past earlier than dropping an in depth resolution, the rematch noticed Fundora set up his dominance early with a clear left hook that dropped Tszyu in spherical one.
“I used to be not stunned I dropped him,” mentioned Fundora. “I used to be coming off a loss final time, so my mentality wasn’t there. Coming into this struggle, I used to be the champion and mentally I used to be higher.”
Fundora continued to press ahead and used his distinctive attain to provide Tszyu suits as he tried to shut down the gap. The struggle took on a back-and-forth nature after the knockdown, with Tszyu looking for and infrequently touchdown huge pictures, whereas Fundora saved up the constant stress.
“I’m the larger man,” mentioned Fundora. “Everybody says I’m a bully within the ring, so I assumed I ought to begin actually bullying these guys.”
“He was simply the higher man,” mentioned Tszyu. “It’s very exhausting to land. He’s so tall. I really feel like I used to be shadowboxing with myself typically. It’s what it’s. Congratulations to Fundora.”
In spherical seven, Tszyu appeared to have his finest moments of the struggle, snapping Fundora’s head again a number of occasions. Nonetheless, he was unable to discourage Fundora’s ahead momentum, because the champion out landed Tszyu 27 to 16 in energy punches throughout the body. One ultimate flurry earlier than the bell left Tszyu worse for put on heading into his nook and finally led to the choice from his nook to halt the struggle.
“I simply saved engaged on aggression my entire profession and we’ve simply been including,” mentioned Fundora. “I’m right here at 154 to remain and able to get extra belts.”
Pay-per-view motion additionally noticed Mexican star Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs) drop 140-pound contender Omar Salcido (20-3, 14 KOs) within the tenth and ultimate spherical as he dominated the motion and earned a unanimous resolution by scores of 100-88 and 99-89 twice. Cruz had initially been scheduled to face Angel Fierro, who was compelled to withdraw as a result of a medical emergency, prompting Salcido to step in on brief discover.
“I used to be extra upset in Fierro than something as a result of he was all bark and no chew, and I’m all chew,” mentioned Cruz. “I give the final word respect to Omar for stepping up. He’s an amazing fighter, however I’m a world champion. I give him props for stepping up.”
The previous tremendous light-weight champion Cruz was capable of land flashy energy punches all through the motion, persistently retaining Salcido from meaningfully partaking. In spherical eight he appeared to stagger Salcido with the brief power-punches and relentless willpower that’s made him a fan favourite. In whole, he landed 33 energy punches throughout the three minutes.
Within the ultimate spherical, one other ferocious assault from Cruz left Salcido with no alternative however to carry to attempt to stay upright, finally prompting referee Mark Nelson to deduct a degree. Shortly after the deduction, Cruz pounced and unleashed yet one more flurry, this time placing Salcido down. After the struggle, Cruz reiterated to his passionate Mexican fanbase that he’ll all the time do his speaking within the ring.
“You guys are all witnesses,” mentioned Cruz. “I like to speak contained in the ring, not exterior of it. I’m all the time right here to indicate what I can do each single struggle.”
Kicking off the pay-per-view, former two-division world champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs) gained a unanimous resolution over featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez (27-5, 15 KOs) of their WBA Featherweight Title Eliminator. Two judges noticed the bout 116-112, with the third decide handing over a 115-113 tally.
“Joet Gonzalez has been in there with one of the best,” mentioned Figueroa. “He’s a tricky, gritty fighter who provides it his all and involves struggle. He by no means backed down and introduced the struggle to me. It was about who wished it extra.”
“I heard unanimous resolution and it simply is what it’s,” mentioned Gonzalez. “It was an in depth struggle and a very good struggle. I ought to have listened to my nook just a little bit extra.”
The struggle was a battle over quantity versus accuracy, as Figueroa threw (1074-821) and landed (282-265) extra punches, whereas Gonzalez related on 35% of his pictures in comparison with Figueroa’s 26%. Fought at shut quarters all through, Figueroa completed stronger within the judges’ eyes, profitable the ultimate 4 rounds on all three playing cards.
“I felt like I used to be in management the entire struggle and managed it once I wished to,” mentioned Figueroa. “He had moments, however I felt like I managed many of the rounds. It was an in depth, gritty win.”
The 2 fighters mixed to solely throw 203 jabs (10 landed) out of 1,895 pictures thrown (most in a struggle this 12 months), selecting as an alternative to wing energy pictures for 12 rounds to the group’s delight. After the struggle, Figueroa expressed his want to maneuver on to combating for the world title subsequent.
“I need to struggle a world champion,” mentioned Figueroa. “That’s what I’m searching for subsequent.”
Previous to the pay-per-view, a three-fight PBC on Prime Video lineup streamed dwell and without cost topped by the return of former longtime world champion Gary Russell Jr. (32-2, 19 KOs) as he stopped Hugo Castañeda (15-3-1, 11 KOs) with a vicious physique shot 26 seconds into the tenth and ultimate spherical of their light-weight affair.
The physique shot was the fourth knockdown scored by Russell, who regarded sharp from the outset as he despatched his opponent down twice within the second spherical, earlier than scoring one other knockdown in spherical six.
