Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was denied a triumphant return to the ring after his World Boxing Council welterweight title challenge against Mexico-American champion Mario Barrios ended in a majority draw at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. One judge, Max DeLuca, scored the 12-round bout 115-113 for the 30-year-old titleholder, while Tim Cheatham and Steve Weisfeld both had it 114-114, allowing Barrios to keep the belt in what was his second consecutive draw. The stalemate left Pacquiao, 46, still seeking his first victory since 2019 and Barrios with another defence that falls short of a clear win. Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, had come out of a four-year retirement and showed flashes of his signature speed, dictating the early exchanges and drawing vocal support from the Las Vegas crowd. Barrios weathered the onslaught, rallying in the later rounds with sharp counters that ultimately persuaded at least one judge. The result leaves Pacquiao’s professional record at 62-8-3 and extends his winless stretch to six years, while Barrios moves to 29-2-2. Both fighters said they would consider a rematch, although no agreements were announced.