MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday lauded Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao for bringing pride and unity to the nation following his high-stakes return to the ring, which ended in a dramatic majority draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.

“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. “At 46, up against a younger and bigger opponent, he reminded the world that the Filipino spirit never backs down.”

Pacquiao, 46, battled the 30-year-old Barrios across 12 rounds at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The judges scored it 115-113 for Barrios, and 114-114 on two scorecards, allowing the American to retain his title.

“I thought I won the fight… Of course, I’d like a rematch. I want to leave a legacy and make the Filipino people proud,” Pacquiao said after the bout.

The match marked Pacquiao’s first professional fight since 2021 and reignited both local and international excitement around the eight-division world champion. He showed flashes of his signature speed and relentless pressure, especially in the early and middle rounds.

“Salamat, People’s Champ. We’ll be ready when that rematch comes,” Marcos added.