Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight ended in a draw in Las Vegas on Saturday. The 46-year-old Filipino attempted to regain his world title. In the heavyweight division, Oleksandr Usyk expanded his list of world titles.
Pacquiao failed to defeat the thirty-year-old American Mario Barrios in the welterweight fight. With scores of 115-113 for the titleholder and two scores of 114-114, the match ended in a majority draw. As a result, Barrios retains his world title.
Pacquiao became the oldest world champion ever in the welterweight division in 2019 at the age of forty. Pacquiao is the only boxer who has won world titles in eight different weight classes. He ended his career in 2021 to focus on politics.
Earlier this year, Pacquiao announced that he would return to the boxing ring in July. He wanted to become the first boxer in history to win a world title in four different decades, but failed in his attempt against Barrios.
“I thought I had won,” Pacquiao said afterwards. “It was an exciting fight. My opponent was very strong. It was a fantastic night anyway.”
Usyk holds all heavyweight world titles
Usyk crowned himself the undisputed world champion in the heavyweight division in London on Saturday. The 38-year-old boxer from Ukraine was too strong for the Brit Daniel Dubois in Wembley, who lost by knockout in the fifth round.
The 27-year-old Dubois was the holder of the IBF title, but that now goes to Usyk. The Ukrainian already had the world titles with the WBA, WBO and WBC boxing associations on his record.
It was Usyk’s 24th professional victory of his career. “I am 38 years old and this is just the beginning,” said the still undefeated boxer. “Who do I want to fight now? I don’t know. I want a few months of rest now and spend time with my wife and children.”