Manny Pacquiao’s return to the ring may have ended in a draw, but he walked away with more than just a moral victory — he proved he still hits hard, fights clean, and belongs among boxing’s elite.
The 46-year-old Filipino legend showed flashes of his old brilliance in his comeback bout against World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, and any lingering questions about his conditioning was put to rest when WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán confirmed that both Pacquiao and Barrios tested negative for performance-enhancing drugs.
“Just received from @Vada_Testing the final notification of testing performed on @MannyPacquiao and Mario Barrios for their fight, and all negative,” Sulaimán posted on X.
He also thanked Premier Boxing Champions and Al Haymon for ensuring the bout adhered to the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program.
The news is a welcome development for Pacquiao, who now has the green light to pursue even bigger fights, including potential matchups against younger, high-profile opponents like Gervonta Davis or Rolando “Rolly” Romero.
During his prime, Pacquiao was accused by several opponents of using performance-enhancing drugs, with critics arguing that a boxer who started in the light flyweight division couldn’t possibly remain competitive at higher weights like middleweight without external help.
Against Barrios — at age 46 — Pacquiao was still remarkably competitive.
Despite the official result, a split draw, Pacquiao made a compelling case that he’s still a force to be reckoned with. One judge scored it 115-113 for Barrios, while the other two had it even at 114-114.
“I thought I won the fight,” Pacquiao said after the fight. “It was close. He’s a tough opponent. I tried to finish strong, but he kept coming.”
Pacquiao’s return was anything but disappointing. From his trademark power punches to his clean bill of health, the performance sent a clear message that he is far from done.
Both Pacquiao and Barrios have expressed interest in a rematch.
