Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios react after fighting to a majority draw in a welterweight title boxing match Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao threw a flurry of punches in the air while wearing his signature smile as he was about to leave the post-fight press conference late Saturday night at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
He hardly looked like a 46-year-old who just went 12 rounds in a tough world-title fight, where he churned out a majority draw against reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios before leaving Sin City.
He still looked fresh enough to go for another round or two.
“Despite not fighting for four years, I’m happy with my performance,” said Pacquiao on Sunday at his Los Angeles apartment, the unwanted fight result getting him revved up even more. “If only I had at least three months of training, I would’ve knocked him out.”
Pacquiao officially began camp for the Barrios fight on May 19, just a few days after the midterm elections back home, where he failed in his Senate reelection bid.
“We only trained for seven-and-a-half weeks because I needed to take a lot of rest for my body to recover.”
Pacquiao said Barrios only managed to hit him with jabs and not heavy shots.
What was usually a beeline trip back to Hollywood took a turn after Pacquiao asked for to stop at Panda Express, a famous fast-food restaurant chain serving American Chinese cuisine, in Barstow, California.
He had a plate of his “favorite” beef broccoli, teriyaki chicken and steamed white rice.
Pacquiao, who only had minor bruises and some puffiness on his face, even obliged for pictures after two kids came up to him, while waiting for his food with his wife, Jinkee.
The eight-division world champion, already one of the best pugilists of all time who is actually in the GOAT conversation in his sport, said after the fight that he would be willing to take part in a rematch with Barrios, and even Floyd Mayweather, should the flamboyant, retired American “wants to fight.”
For now, things are still up in the air as far as the boxing career of the Pacman is concerned, as he turns 47 in December and with handler Sean Gibbons not wanting a fight with Barrios again.
“If Manny wants to fight again, there’s fighters like Rolly Romero, there’s fighters like Gervonta Davis,” Gibbons had said after the fight. “Not a knock on Barrios, I like him, I like everybody around him, but he doesn’t move the needle.
“He’s just a nice person. Nobody wants to see a nice person. You need a Rolly Romero, you need a Gervonta Davis.”
The 29-year-old Romero owns the WBA (regular) welterweight belt after beating Ryan Garcia by unanimous decision last May.
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Davis, meanwhile, is the WBA champion at 135 pounds and last fought Lamont Roach in a bout that ended by majority draw four months ago. INQ