DAVAO CITY (July 21) –— President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday lauded boxing legend Manny Pacquiao for inspiring unity and pride among Filipinos following his highly anticipated comeback fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, which ended in a majority draw in Las Vegas.
“The Filipinos won! It ended in a draw, but make no mistake — Manny Pacquiao gave us something far greater than a win: pride and unity,” Marcos said in a statement posted on social media.
Pacquiao, 46, faced the younger, stronger Barrios in a grueling 12-round bout that showcased the Filipino icon’s enduring grit and heart. One judge scored the fight 115-113 in favor of Barrios, while the other two judges called it even at 114-114.
“At 46, up against a younger and bigger opponent, he reminded the world that the Filipino spirit never backs down,” the President added.
Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion and a former senator, had not fought professionally since 2021. His return to the ring reignited the country’s passion for boxing and drew global attention to his unmatched legacy.
The President ended his message with a hopeful note: “Salamat, People’s Champ. We’ll be ready when that rematch comes.”
