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There was a sense of déjà vu last Sunday as Filipinos once again gathered around to watch Manny Pacquiao headline a championship fight in Las Vegas.
For a brief moment on Sunday, July 20, it looked like it was 2008 all over again in the Philippines. Or 2009, or 2010, or 2011. Or any other particular Sunday in the last 20 years when Manny Pacquiao had a fight.
Traffic was very light in the metro. Elsewhere in the country, Filipinos were gathered around TV sets and widescreens. Manny Pacquiao was once again headlining a fight card in Las Vegas, and it was if we were all transported back in time.
To be fair, Sunday’s WBC welterweight title fight against Mario Barrios, who is hardly a household name, didn’t carry the same gravitas, and from what I’ve heard, not as much pull on PPV sales. It wasn’t on the same level as it was during the late aughts, when Manny tore through Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto and the AFP and NPA declared ceasefires on fight day.
Blame that on Manny’s lackluster performance against Yordenis Ugas in 2021 and that he was now four years older. Throw in the fact that Barrios had previously knocked out Ugas, and it was understandable if many casual fans were afraid they would be witnessing Pacquiao being reduced to a mere mortal, an aging fighter who didn’t know when to hang up his gloves.
It also can’t be denied that there is a type of fan who tuned out Pacquiao long ago after his foray into politics, and who treated this fight with indifference. In my own circle, I know several people who were once upon a time rabid Manny supporters but who didn’t even bother to watch Sunday’s fight.
And for those who did watch, a common sentiment was Please, just don’t let him get beaten up. If this was to be Pacquiao’s last fight, then let him go out with some dignity. As it turned out, he not only left with his dignity intact, he very nearly left with Barrios’ belt.
By the sixth round, it was clear this version of Manny Pacquiao was closer to the 40-year-old one who beat Keith Thurman in 2019 than the one who lost to Ugas. There were times, for sure, when Pacquiao looked every bit a 46-year-old who has been in over 70 professional fights. Gone were the speed and explosiveness that befuddled previous foes.
But he was still quick and explosive enough to land 81 power punches on Barrios, and while none of them came close to knocking his opponent down, each blow was met with cheers from the capacity crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
As Manny began to assert himself in the middle rounds, the familiar chant of “MA-NNY! MA-NNY! MA-NNY!” began to echo in the arena. But unlike in his previous fights where the chants were an accompanying battle cry towards certain victory, this time they were designed to will him past the finish line. Just one more magnificent moment for the great Manny Pacquiao, was all they wanted.
When the final bell rang, the outcome was truly up in the air. Barrios, knowing he was behind, came on strong in the championship rounds. Pacquiao clearly lost a bit of steam in the homestretch, but would Barrios’ last-minute rally be enough? Or would Manny Pacquiao deal the famously undefeated Father Time a huge defeat?
One judge thought Barrios eked out a win. Two others thought it was a stalemate. All three, though, agreed that the champion took the last three rounds. If Manny had won just one of those rounds, we would now be talking about him in god-like terms.
The crowd, as well as the millions of Filipinos watching back home, met the decision with an awkward silence. Okay, he didn’t lose, but he didn’t win, either. Those who believe in moral victories would have been thrilled with this ambiguous result.
Was Manny robbed? I wouldn’t go that far. He certainly did enough to make many rounds difficult to score, but Barrios actually outlanded him in total punches. A 115-113 decision either way would have been acceptable.
“I thought I won the fight,” Pacquiao said, quoted by AFP. “I mean, it was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. But it was a wonderful fight. I was trying to find a way to finish the fight but my opponent was so tough. He threw punches in combination and with defense, so it was hard.”
Barrios also gave his props to Manny, while also believing he had done enough.
“I still tip my hat to Manny,” he said, also quoted by AFP. “It was an honor to share the ring with him, somebody with so much experience who has accomplished so much in this sport. We left everything in the ring, nothing but love and respect.”
Barrios couldn’t help but marvel at his opponent conditioning.
“That’s crazy — his stamina, he can still crack and he’s still strong as hell. His timing, his rhythm, everything. He was still a very awkward fighter to figure out.”
The inevitable talk of a rematch surfaced almost immediately after the decision. Both fighters claim they want it, but I suspect once things settle down and the adrenaline rush from the fight wears off, Manny will look at other options. He’s proven that not only can he still be competitive, but that he can still draw in the crowds. But if he’s still targeting a belt that would make him the oldest welterweight champion, then the rematch would be the most attractive option.
He could also just retire for good now, and leave on a high note. At least this way, our last memory of Manny Pacquiao in the ring would be of a legend who very nearly knocked out Father Time, and not of an aging boxer whose last performance was painful to watch.
Whatever decision he makes, let us all hope it’s the right one.
Images from AFP