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Pacquiao held to draw by Barrios in world title return

Pacquiao held to draw by Barrios in world title return

News.com.au4 days ago
Manny Pacquiao's bid to make a fairytale return to boxing at the age of 46 ended in disappointment on Saturday, as the Filipino icon was held to a draw by defending WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas.
Barrios, 30, retained his belt despite being dominated for several rounds by Pacquiao, making a comeback to the ring after a four-year retirement.
Barrios was awarded the fight 115-113 by one judge, with the other two cards scoring it 114-114.
The result drew a subdued reaction from the MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd, who had roared on Pacquiao during a cagey, hard-fought contest.
At times, it seemed as if Pacquiao was poised to write another improbable chapter in his 30-year professional career as he used all of his guile and experience to frustrate Barrios.
But Barrios rallied furiously over the final three rounds -- he was deemed the winner of those rounds on all three cards -- to do just enough to force a result that sees him retain his title.
"I thought I won the fight," Pacquiao said afterwards. "I mean, it was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. But it was a wonderful fight.
"I was trying to find a way to finish the fight but my opponent was so tough. He threw punches in combination and with defense, so it was hard."
Barrios, meanwhile, felt he had done enough to deserve the draw.
"I thought I pulled it out," Barrios said. "But I still tip my hat to Manny. It was an honor to share the ring with him, somebody with so much experience who has accomplished so much in this sport. We left everything in the ring, nothing but love and respect."
Barrios admitted he had been awed by Pacquiao's remarkable reserves of energy and stamina.
"That's crazy -- his stamina, he can still crack and he's still strong as hell. His timing, his rhythm, everything. He was still a very awkward fighter to figure out," he said.
- Rematch offer -
Barrios said he had been made aware that he needed to up his workrate to force the result over the closing rounds.
"I knew I had to step it up to try to and solidify a win," Barrios said.
"I was really pressing him, trying to make him feel old. But he has some good legs -- a lot of the tank and a lot of fight left in him.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, said that he hoped to continue fighting, and would be open to a rematch with Barrios.
"Of course, of course," he replied when asked if he wanted to continue his career and face Barrios again.
"That's the only legacy that I can leave behind -- to give inspiration to the Filipino people and to be proud wherever you are."
Barrios, for his part, added he was open to facing Pacquiao again.
"I would love to do it again," he said during a ring interview.
Pacquiao, whose last win came in 2019, had been regarded as a heavy underdog against his taller, rangier opponent from Texas.
But the Filipino eight-division champion, one of the most beloved fighters of the era, showed little sign of being troubled for long periods.
Fighting in flurries and landing crisp combinations throughout, Pacquiao consistently looked the busier fighter during the early and middle rounds.
Barrios, by contrast, appeared tentative, reluctant to risk going toe-to-toe early on against the experienced Filipino.
Yet for all of Pacquiao's craft, he was unable to seriously hurt Barrios, who regrouped impressively in the later rounds to connect with several jabs and do just enough to force the draw.
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Josh Giddey's NBA payday shrinks in standoff with Chicago Bulls
Josh Giddey's NBA payday shrinks in standoff with Chicago Bulls

News.com.au

time12 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Josh Giddey's NBA payday shrinks in standoff with Chicago Bulls

Josh Giddey is still waiting to get his next NBA deal as the Chicago Bulls play hardball on a mega contract extension in an off-season standoff that continues to drag on. The Australian finished his fourth NBA season on a hot streak, racking up triple doubles for fun and scoring a halfcourt buzzerbeater against the LA Lakers to send his value skyrocketing heading into restricted free agency. It was widely expected that Chicago would offer Giddey a contract extension worth $30 million (A$45 million) per season, but that is yet to happen as the Bulls appear hesitant to shell out that kind of money. A contract of that value would make Giddey one of Australia's highest paid athletes, excluding LIV golfers Cam Smith and Marc Leishman. As it stands, it looks likely Giddey may accept Chicago's qualifying offer of $11.1 million (A$17m) for the 2025-26 season and bet on himself to outperform that value so he can command a more lucrative deal when he hits unrestricted free agency next summer. 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Giddey, Brooklyn's Cam Thomas, Golden State's Jonathan Kuminga and Philadelphia's Quentin Grimes could have earned deals worth in excess of $100 million in most other off-seasons. 5 former 1st rd. picks have signed a Qualifying Offer since 2018. Their next contract outside of Miles Bridges has not been pretty: Alex Len: 2/8.5M Nerlens Noel: 2/3.7M Rodney Hood: 2/11.7M Denzel Valentine: 2/4.1M Miles Bridges: 3/75M — Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 18, 2025 But a lack of cap space around the league this year and the NBA's restrictive new collective bargaining agreement is making teams wary of shelling out big contracts on players who aren't superstars. YardBarker's Nathan Shirberg said: 'Essentially, the Bulls are negotiating against themselves, which incentivises them to not negotiate at all. As it stands, the Bulls should feel no pressure to give in.' A Bulls executive told Spotrac's Keith Smith: 'We want to get a deal done with Josh. He's as important of a player as we have. 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Wild brawl between baseball players, spectators erupts
Wild brawl between baseball players, spectators erupts

News.com.au

time13 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Wild brawl between baseball players, spectators erupts

Some spectators have ruined am American Legion baseball playoffs game. In footage that has spread across cyberspace, fans were seen running onto the field during Tuesday's game, causing it to be postponed. The New York Post reports, at least one brawl exploded during East Springfield Post 420's clash with Milford Post 59 in their heated encounter which took place near Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. Police are investigating the issue and are considering whether to charge three individuals, including at least one player and a Milford High School student, Milford Police Department spokesperson Jason Covino told the Boston Globe. No arrests were made nor were any injuries reported, per the outlet. 'Absolute mayhem taking place over by the third base dugout as members of the Milford crowd have now come onto the warning track on the third base side,' Milford broadcaster Tim Caouette said as the action unfolded. 'Never in all of my years covering Legion Baseball have I ever seen this kind of activity from the fans.' The game is scheduled to resume on Thursday (AEST) according to the Milford Daily News, and there may be some extra bad blood as East Springfield coach Eduardo Colon alleged Milford coach Steve DiVitto ignited the fireworks by inciting his fans and that 'led to the fans going crazy.' 'Umpires are not reacting to this the way [they] should be,' Colon told the Boston Globe. 'Because if I was to run out in the field and yell at an umpire's face, I would have been ejected immediately.' The commotion started in the fourth inning with the bases loaded in a 1-1 game and a batter facing a 2-1 count at Fino Field, as captured by the YouTube channel @MyMilfordTV. Police told TMZ they believe heckling sparked the wild scene, and Colon alleged to the Boston Globe on Tuesday that a Milford fan started the ruckus by arguing with a player's parents in the stands. In the broadcast streamed by @MyMilfordTV, one individual's voice rose above the murmur moments before things got out of hand. 'What the f*** is you talking about?' the person said. 'Get your ass out of there.' A 'shut the f*** up' was captured while the Milford catcher looked toward the stands situated near the East Springfield dugout, before one fan seemingly said: 'You're an old ass woman, what the f*** you doing coming in the stands?' The umpire then turned toward the stands while play stopped. Caouette noted how 'the fans are starting to get into it over on the third base side.' Not much could be seen, although 'come on this side' and a repeated 'Max' could be heard before an individual in red shorts ran around the dugout and made way onto the field. Caouette later told Milford fans had been taunting and eventually came on the field and engaged the Post 420 players. One East Springfield player motioned as if he was ready to fight, while an umpire and what appeared to be a security official grabbed the individual in red. An East Springfield player wearing No. 19 — which belongs to starting pitcher Eliezer Rosario — then threw multiple punches at the fan and seemingly connected with at least one before being separated by the umpire and others. The Milford Daily News reported that it 'appeared' Rosario was ejected by the umpires. Colon told the Boston Globe that the Milford fan whom he alleged started the altercation 'shoved (a player's) mother to the side and took a swing at his father' and acknowledged one of his players threw a punch. 'When the (fan) came around (the dugout), he swung at another parent that tried to stop him from coming, and he was just going swinging,' Colon told the outlet. 'So the kid that had seen his parents getting pushed and swung at, you know, swung back.' The tension intensified while what appeared to be a fan hit the ground after colliding with a player. Caouette said that DiVitto made his way over at this point, while pointing out that there had been trash talk happening. 'Great ballgame. It's unfortunate,' DiVitto told the Milford Daily News. 'I don't want to take anything away from how hard the kids from both teams played.' One East Springfield coach, who could be heard telling the umpires he's the manager — Colon — then started screaming at the umpires before one seemingly told him: 'One more and you're gone.' The coach then seemingly said no players should be thrown out before yelling: 'My wife got f***ing thrown on the f***ing ground.' One umpire told the teams to retreat to their dugout and the East Springfield coach then seemingly yelled at the opposing fans. Colon alleged to the Boston Globe that one of the umpires shoved one of his players in the face while attempting to quell the tensions. 'As an umpire, I understand that he was trying to separate the altercation,' Colon told the outlet. 'But that's not how you separate. The players are not going to put their hands on you.' The East Springfield coach and DiVitto then conferred near home plate, while Caouette noted how police cruisers had arrived. As the umpires and coaches congregated, one East Springfield player had to be held back by teammates. A police officer eventually made his way onto the field, speaking with DiVitto and the umpires and eventually taking statements, per Caouette. Covino told the Boston Globe that police received a call shortly after 9pm (local time). Caouette noted then how some Milford fans had 'crossed the line' and said things which 'exacerbated' the situation, but said no Milford players were involved. The field announcer eventually said they wanted fans to exit in groups. DiVitto was unaware after the game if any players had been ejected. 'I don't know the final decision,' he told the Milford Daily News. 'The umpires are going to have to speak to the umpiring chief and the state chairman as well. It's just a really unfortunate situation all around.' Post 59 President Cindy Stulac wrote Tuesday on Facebook that the Milford police chief opted against resuming play that day 'to allow for adequate planning to ensure the safety of all involved to finish the game.' East Springfield can advance to the state tournament with a win on Thursday, while Milford needs to triumph and then beat East Springfield again to advance, per the Milford Daily News.

Messi, Alba risk ban after MLS All-Star game withdrawal
Messi, Alba risk ban after MLS All-Star game withdrawal

News.com.au

time13 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Messi, Alba risk ban after MLS All-Star game withdrawal

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami team-mate Jordi Alba could face a suspension after withdrawing from Major League Soccer's All-Star game. Argentina superstar Messi and Alba had been due to start for a combined MLS team which will face a squad representing Mexico's Liga-MX in Austin later Wednesday. However a league source said Inter Miami had notified officials on Wednesday that both Messi and Alba had been pulled from the event. Under MLS rules, both Messi and Alba could be given a one-game suspension unless they have a valid reason for the withdrawal, such as an injury. A league source told AFP however no decision on possible disciplinary action would be taken until MLS officials had spoken to Inter Miami to confirm the circumstances of the withdrawal. The duo's participation in Wednesday's mid-season exhibition game had been under a cloud after Miami coach Javier Mascherano indicated at the weekend he wanted Messi and Alba to rest. "The players are called up. I'd prefer they rest, but it's not my decision," Mascherano said. "I know how important the All-Star Game is, and as far as I know, there's no decision from the club - everything continues as normal." Both Messi, 38, and Alba, 36, have a history of recent injury problems while Inter Miami has faced a gruelling schedule which included participation in the recent FIFA Club World Cup.

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