Las Vegas – over 24 years after Manny Pacquiao made his debut at MGM Grand Garden Arena, annoying Lehlo Ledwab for the title IBF Junior Penage Weight, Filipino Sensation tried to create a story as the oldest warrior who won Wwałowiec’s championship in Werelight in the same place where it all began.
But the 46 -year -old Pacquiao had no attempt when his fight with WBC Master Mario Barrios ended on Saturday evening. Barrios kept his title, and Pacquiao left Las Vegas empty -handed.
“I thought I won the fight,” said depressed Pacquiao. “It was a strict fight. It was very tough.”
Pacquiao was overtaken on all three cards of results that go to the 10th round. However, all three judges won the last three rounds for Barrios, allowing him to keep their title. The result-two judges who shot him 114-114, and one judge shot him 115-113 for Barrios-spades flat before the crowd 13 107, most of which are Pacquiao fans.
Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KO) ended his four-year pension a month after he was introduced to the International Gallery of Sław and quickly began against Barrios, who is 16 younger. In the early rounds, the Vintage version of Pacquiao, far from the snail-paced version, which lost the decision with Yordenis Ugas in 2021. The only eight -person world champion in Boxing enlivened the crowd, introducing into his freight attack, throwing his left hand between Barrios and throwing himself in calls.
But my father time seemed to have a path from Pacquiao when the former senator in the Philippines released through the middle rounds.
“I have to continue training for a longer fight for the championship,” said Pacquiao, who announced a return to the ring in May after he did not escape for the senator. “I started tardy because of the elections, but it’s fine. Of course I would like to rematch. I want to leave heritage and make Filipinos proud.”
In Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KO) he only lost to Gervont Davis and Keith Thurman. However, his last two trips against Abel Ramos (Draw) and Fabian Maidana (WiN) were far from impressive.
Barrios was carefully selected by Pacquiao for his return and received the title shot due to WBC rules stating that the former master can ask for a fight for the title after retiring. Pacquiao almost pulled him out, but Barrios came back to the fight.
“His endurance is crazy,” said Barrios. “He is still powerful as hell and his time is real. He is still a very awkward warrior who could come up with.”
Pacquiao called energy to launch his combinations, but she clearly tired in the second half when Barrios did enough to convince the judges, allowing him to keep his title.
Pacquiao landed 101 out of 577 stamps (17.5%) to 120 from 658 Barrios (18.2%), but Pacquiao managed to get their opponent 81-75 in force.
Barrios said he would be interested in sharing the ring with legend again.
“I’ll make a rematch,” said Barrios. “Of course. It was huge for boxing. I would like to do it again.”
Considering that Pacquiao said he wanted to fight again, he could get another attempt to create history. Until then, he can comfort, proveing that he still has it.
Pacquiao said: “I hope it is an inspiration for boxers that if you have a discipline and you work tough, you can still fight at this age.”
Oleksandr Usyk is planning on just one more fight before hanging up the gloves and sailing off into the sunset, and the Ukrainian icon has confirmed who he is targeting for his ‘last dance’ and why.
Usyk’s achievements at both cruiserweight and heavyweight have seen him recognised as one of boxing’s all-time greats, having joined Evander Holyfield as the second man to claim the undisputed title in both weight divisions.
However, against Rico Verhoeven back in May, the 39-year-old showed signs that perhaps he’s starting slowing down and was somewhat fortunate to avoid an astonishing upset as a controversial round 11 stoppage spared his blushes.
During the aftermath, Usyk announced his decision to vacate all three of his heavyweight world titles and to have one last dance before retirement, with former WBC heavyweight ruler Deontay Wilder deemed by many to be the frontrunner for the opposing corner.
In an interview with All Out FightingUsyk confirmed that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ is his targeted opponent because he is a ‘dangerous guy’.
“This is a man who, in the last 10 years, has been a top fighter, a world champion. It’s a dangerous guy.”
Despite the fact that Wilder has lost four of his last seven contests, Usyk was unbothered by the suggestion that the American’s recent form could see him not receive credit from the fans for defeating him at this point in his career.
“I am not boxing for glory. For me, it is just my life.”
Usyk vs Wilder could be set to take place in either December 2026 or early 2027, as the Ukrainian calls time on an illustrious career.
Ryan Garcia is set for a defence of his WBC welterweight world title, taking on Conor Benn in six weeks’ time. Now, pound-for-pound superstar Canelo Alvarez has revealed his prediction for the fight.
Benn was named as the WBC’s mandatory challenger earlier this year, despite having not fought at the weight since April 2022. Therefore, when Garcia dethroned Mario Barrios in February to claim the title, it seemed as though a meeting between the pair would inevitably come next.
Benn decided to first take part in a 150lb catchweight scrap with Regis Prograis, winning on points to allow him to push ahead with the title challenge.
It was confirmed earlier this month that Garcia vs. Benn will go ahead on September 12 – a notable date considering Garcia’s Latino heritage, with Mexican Independence Day being just four days later.
Mexican icon Canelo has fought in September for the last four years, but told The Ariel Helwani Show that he was happy for Garcia to take his slot following the postponement of his challenge for Christian Mbilli’s WBC super-middleweight world title.
“It’s very good [that he is fighting on that date]especially because I turned that date down now because I moved my fight. I think that he is good for fighting on that date. I think that he is the correct person to do it and the fight deserves that day.”
When discussing the fight itself, Canelo admitted that he is favouring his former stablemate, believing that Garcia is capable of beating anyone on his day.
“I like Ryan, he is very talented. When he is focussed, he can beat everybody.
“I know Conor too and I like Conor too, but I think that Ryan is a special fighter.”
Garcia-Benn will be staged at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with undefeated cruiserweight Jai Opetaia expected to compete in the co-main event of the bill.
Anthony Joshua was knocked down for the sixth time in three fights when he boxed Kristian Prenga on Saturday, and now Tony Bellew has shared his thoughts on the chin of the two-time heavyweight world champion.
Joshua was expected to convince fans that he was back to his best when he took on Prenga in Jeddah, but the outcome couldn’t have been further from the intended one, as ‘AJ’ was twice floored in the opening round, bringing his punch resistance into question.
To his credit, Joshua responded well in the second round and capitalised on a frozen Prenga, who was unable to build on the momentum he had generated in the opening three minutes before being stopped himself.
Joshua’s frailties has left some former fighters questioning whether Joshua’s showdown with Tyson Fury should still be pursued or if he should instead retire from the sport and prioritise his health.
Former WBC cruiserweight world champion Bellew has now had his say, as he told The Stomping Ground that he still believes Joshua’s chin to be ‘rock solid’.
“He has got a rock solid chin. How can you question someone’s chin when he has never been starched and he has never been flatlined, he always gets up. Even against Daniel Dubois, he always gets up.
“The fact that he gets up shows that there is absolutely nothing wrong with his chin.”
Fury vs Joshua is expected to go ahead in November and will be broadcast live on Netlfix.
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