Pacquiao vs Barrios: Draw in WBC Welterweight Title Fight
Barrios Edges Pacquiao in Controversial Split Decision; fundora dominates Tszyu in Rematch
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Coachella, CA – In a bout that left manny fans in a frenzy, Abel Ramos secured a split decision victory over boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, improving his record to 29-2-2.The heavily pro-Pacquiao crowd voiced their displeasure with loud boos following the announcement, a testament to the enduring popularity and skill of the Filipino icon.
A Gritty Performance from Both Fighters
Despite the controversial outcome,Ramos expressed immense respect for his opponent. “It was an honor to share the ring with him,” Ramos stated. “This is by far the biggest event I’ve had to date, and we came in here and left everything in the ring. I have nothing but respect for Manny.” He went on to praise Pacquiao’s remarkable stamina and timing, noting, “His stamina is crazy. He’s still strong as hell and his timing is real. He’s still a very awkward fighter to try to figure out.”
Pacquiao, now 62-9-2, showcased flashes of his former brilliance, moving with surprising speed and demonstrating the sharp timing that made him a twelve-time world champion across eight divisions. He appeared to take control of the fight from the seventh round onwards, landing notable left hands and winning multiple rounds on the scorecards.
Though, Ramos proved to be the more effective fighter in the closing stages. Recognizing the need to impress the judges,he adopted a more aggressive approach,a strategy that paid off as all three judges awarded him the final three rounds. “I didn’t think the fight was getting away from me, but I knew I had to step it up to solidify a win,” Ramos admitted. Both fighters indicated their openness to a rematch, fueling anticipation for a potential second encounter.
Pacquiao’s Message of Discipline and Longevity
Pacquiao, ever the ambassador for the sport, shared a message of inspiration. “I hope this is an inspiration to boxers that if you have discipline and work hard you can still fight at this age,” he remarked, highlighting his own enduring commitment to boxing.
Fundora’s Dominance in the Co-Main Event
In the co-featured bout, Sebastian Fundora successfully defended his WBC super welterweight title against Tim Tszyu. tszyu’s corner opted not to continue after the seventh round, handing Fundora a dominant victory. Fundora had knocked tszyu down with a powerful left hand in the first round and controlled the action throughout, landing an impressive 118 power punches according to Compubox. He consistently backed Tszyu down,showcasing his imposing physical presence.
“I’m the bigger guy,” Fundora commented after the fight. “Everyone says I’m a bully in the ring, so I thought I should start realy bullying these guys. I just kept working on aggression my whole career and we’ve just been adding.”
This victory capped off a significant week for Fundora,who also recently gained acceptance into Harvard University. His win over tszyu avenged a closer split-decision loss from their first encounter on March 30, 2024. It’s worth noting that Fundora was previously stripped of his WBO belt for failing to face mandatory challenger Xander Zayas.