It was a night of legends. Oleksandr Usyk, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, and Manny Pacquiao all stepped into the spotlight. Each with a world championship story unfolding. Fans around the world hoped for a clean sweep: victories for the two active champions and a triumphant return for the Filipino icon, making a comeback after four years of retirement. But their wishes were only partially fulfilled. Usyk secured his place in history by becoming a three-time undisputed champion. Bam Rodriguez followed suit with a brilliant performance to unify titles in his division. Yet, for Manny Pacquiao, despite a commendable effort against an opponent sixteen years his junior, the night ended in a majority draw.

The result sparked intense debate across social media. Many felt the decision was questionable. Some even called it outrageous. Yet amid the outrage, there were also some unexpected takes. One came from none other than Shakur Stevenson. According to Stevenson, the outcome might have opened a door for Floyd Mayweather to reclaim a world title. Why? The buildup to the Barrios fight reignited speculation about a potential rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao. Ten years ago, they faced off in what became the richest fight in boxing history. Since then, rumors of a second bout have surfaced now and then. Last time, Mayweather won by unanimous decision. So if Mario Barrios could hold Pacquiao to a draw, perhaps Mayweather could do it again and walk away with another title!

Although Shakur Stevenson later described the fight’s decision as ‘crazy,’ he had already posted a cryptic message beforehand: “Floyd bout to be world champ next.” It seems Saturday night’s showdown at the MGM Grand lit a spark in more than just fans.

For some, it reignited the belief that Mayweather, even in his late 40s, could return and defeat this version of Pacquiao. Perhaps even more convincingly than before. However, not everyone shared that optimism. There’s been a hue and cry over the final decision that allowed Mario Barrios to retain his welterweight title.

Of the three judges, one scored the bout 115-113 in favor of the champion. But the other two saw it as a closely contested fight that could have gone either way, scoring it 114-114. A stalemate. Reactions, unsurprisingly, were aplenty. Former world champions Danny Garcia and Teofimo Lopez didn’t seem to agree with Shakur Stevenson’s take. In their view, Manny Pacquiao won the fight hands down.

Some fans and pundits even took up the cudgels to slam the judges. As for how much this decision will affect the long-rumored Pacquiao-Mayweather 2, that remains to be seen.

Manny Pacquiao on Mayweather 2: Say the word

All the more so now, since the sport’s only eight-division world champion has made his stance clear. He wants nothing less than a professional bout. On ‘Pound4Pound with Kamaru & Henry,’ Manny Pacquiao appeared enthusiastic about the prospect of rematching his old rival.

Still, as far as he’s concerned, it all comes down to Mayweather. “Well, it’s up to him. If he comes out of retirement, then we’ll have a Mayweather-Pacquiao 2,” he stated. When Usman pressed if that would be an exhibition or a full-rules contest, the Filipino legend responded, “No, I don’t like exhibitions. Like, I want, if Mayweather’s my opponent. I don’t like exhibitions. Like, I want a fight like there’s a decision.”

And judging by tonight’s performance, Pacquiao certainly surprised many. Despite being up against Father Time. Entering the fight as a +210 underdog, few expected him to hold his own against Barrios. But he did more than that. Just look back at his last exhibition match against kickboxer Rukiya Anpo, then compare it to tonight. Pacquiao rekindled memories of his prime, showcasing his trademark footwork and lightning-fast combinations.

Still, it’s back to the drawing board for now. Pacquiao and his team must decide what’s next. A rematch with Barrios, a push for another title, or perhaps calling it a day. After watching tonight’s fight, do you think a Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 still makes sense?