MANNY Pacquiao’s return to the ring ended in a majority draw against reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Sunday (Manila time) at the MGM Grand.

The judges scored the 12-round bout 115-113 for Barrios and 114-114 on two cards, allowing the 30-year-old American to retain his title.

Pacquiao, 46, displayed flashes of his trademark speed and aggression in his first professional fight since 2021. He started strong and had dominant stretches in the early and middle rounds, pushing the pace and connecting with rapid-fire combinations.

Barrios, 16 years younger, weathered Pacquiao’s bursts and fought back with sharp jabs and well-timed counters, gaining momentum in the later rounds. He took control in the final two rounds as Pacquiao’s output slowed.

“I thought I won the fight… I’d love a rematch,” said Pacquiao, the sport’s only eight-division world champion. “I want to leave a legacy and make the Filipino people proud.”

Barrios welcomed a second meeting: “Absolutely. This was huge for boxing. I’d love to do it again.”

The close decision and competitive action have fueled talk of a possible rematch — one that could define Pacquiao’s final chapter in the ring.