Pacquiao Cashes In Despite Draw Against Barrios: Earnings Could Soar Past $17 Million

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by Butch Belga

Manny Pacquiao (right) raises his hands with opponent Mario Barrios after a majority draw verdict was announced. Photo: PBC.

Manny Pacquiao may not have scored a victory in his highly anticipated return to the ring, but the Filipino boxing legend still walked away a winner in more ways than one—especially financially.

Despite settling for a majority draw in his comeback bout against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila), Pacquiao is poised to earn upwards of $17 million (roughly ₱1 billion) once all revenue streams are accounted for.

This marks Pacquiao’s first fight since 2021, and his return drew significant attention—not just from fans, but from sponsors, broadcasters, and the global Filipino community. Held at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas with an announced attendance of 13,107, the event proved that the 46-year-old still has massive box-office pull.

According to The New York Times, Pacquiao was guaranteed a $12.5 million fight purse. While it’s unclear if he will receive a portion of the gate receipts, earnings from pay-per-view sales are expected to significantly boost his total haul. The official PPV numbers have yet to be released, but industry insiders suggest the fight attracted millions of buys, particularly from the large Filipino diaspora in the United States.

Though exact figures remain unconfirmed, conservative projections estimate Pacquiao’s total earnings could easily exceed $17 million, thanks to his share in PPV, sponsorships, and other ancillary revenues.

Not bad at all for a fighter long past his prime—yet still able to command top-tier payouts. While these numbers don’t quite match the staggering $20 million he earned just from his purse in the 2015 super-fight with Floyd Mayweather (a bout that remains the highest-grossing in history), his latest payday underscores his enduring star power.

Meanwhile, Mario Barrios, who defended his title successfully by escaping with a draw, was guaranteed $1 million for the fight. If PPV numbers meet expectations, his earnings could swell to $3.5 million—making it the most lucrative night of his career so far.

In the end, Pacquiao didn’t add a ninth world title to his legendary résumé, but he reminded the world—and his bank account—that he still packs a serious punch outside the ring.