Manny Pacquiao pushed back against his doubters, the odds and even Father Time on Saturday night — and nearly made some history.

In a highly anticipated return to the ring, 45-year-old Manny Pacquiao fought WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a hard-fought majority draw on Sunday, July 20 (Manila time), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring at the weekend after a four-year hiatus marked the latest example of a boxer well past his prime who could not resist the temptation of the squared circle and a chance to add to his competitive legacy.

Manny Pacquiao reportedly will receive a purse of $12 million on top of his share from pay-per-view earnings as he came out of retirement to face Mario Barrios

The 46-year-old Pacquiao was ahead in all of the judges’ scorecards after the first nine rounds. But Barrios clawed back into the fight, winning the final three rounds to retain his title via a majority draw. Two judges scored the bout 114-114, while the third judge saw it 115-113 for Barrios.

At 46, Pacquiao is older than George Foreman when Foreman defeated Michael Moorer to win the IBF and WBA heavyweight titles in 1994. Pacquiao also hasn't fought professionally in just shy of four years, retiring after being beaten by Yordenis Ugas in August 2021. That Ugas fight came more than two years after Pacquiao's previous bout.

Notwithstanding the contentious and, for many, outrageous majority draw verdict, Manny Pacquiao’s performance against Mario Barrios in his much-anticipated comeback fight affirmed what millions around the world have always believed: greatness doesn’t fade easily.