Manny Pacquiao Pulls Off What No One Expected Despite Age and Draw Result

The ranking is a significant milestone for Pacquiao, who returned to the ring after a four-year hiatus and nearly dethroned a champion 16 years younger than him. 

His performance, which had flashes of his vintage speed and precision, convinced Ring Magazine that he still belongs among the elite at 147 pounds, and was impressive enough to earn recognition despite the draw result.

Shortly after his bout, Pacquiao believed he won the fight, telling BoxingScene, “For the 11th and 12th [rounds], I’m okay with them giving those to Barrios because, in my mind, I was thinking, ‘Even if they give him these two rounds, I did enough in the others [to win].’”

“PacMan” still took the loss with dignity, saying, “I was surprised by the decision. But I am in sports. The first thing you learn in sports is sportsmanship.”

Barrios, who retained his WBC title, is ranked just one place above Pacquiao at no. 8 in Ring Magazine’s rankings. A rematch between him and Pacquiao remains a strong possibility, especially now that Pacquiao has regained his foothold in the rankings.

Even in the post-retirement comeback arc of his career, Pacquiao has already defied expectations by proving he can still at least compete at the highest level.