Manny Pacquiao, the only eight-division world champion, returned to the ring after four years of inactivity to face Mexican Mario Barrios for the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title
The fight in Las Vegas ended in a draw, but what was most striking was Pacquiao’s position in the rankings before the fight.
A classification that generated controversy
The WBC had placed Pacquiao at number 5 in the welterweight rankings, despite not having fought since 2021. This decision was heavily criticised by the media, fans and boxing experts, who considered it unfair for an inactive fighter to receive such a high ranking. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman publicly acknowledged that it was a “mistake” and confirmed that the Filipino would be removed from the list in the coming days[1](https://www.essentiallysports.com/boxing-news-outrage-over-manny-pacquiao-s-ranking-forces-wbc-s-hand-before-mario-barrios-clash/).
The draw that did not convince
During the fight, Pacquiao showed flashes of his experience, but also evidenced the effects of time out of the ring. Mario Barrios, younger and more active, managed to keep up the pace and avoid being outclassed by the legend. The draw left many dissatisfied, especially those who expected a clear victory that would justify Pacquiao’s return to the rankings.
Reactions from the boxing world
Criticism was swift, with several analysts pointing out that the WBC had favored Pacquiao because of his name and legacy, rather than recent sporting merit. “You can’t rank someone who hasn’t fought in years,” was one of the most repeated phrases on social media. Others defended the decision as a way to honor a historic figure in the sport.
Pacquiao’s future in doubt
After the draw and controversy, the future of Manny Pacquiao in professional boxing is uncertain. Although he still has a loyal fan base, many wonder whether his return was a symbolic farewell or the beginning of a new chapter. For now, the WBC has made it clear that its ranking will be adjusted and that any future fight will have to be evaluated with stricter sporting criteria.
The case of Manny Pacquiao shows that boxing is not only fought in the ring, but also in the offices. His draw against Mario Barrios and the controversy over his ranking has opened a debate about the transparency and criteria of the sanctioning bodies. Meanwhile, fans remain divided between respect for the legend and the demand for sporting justice.
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