Pacquiao and Barrios Cleared of Any Suspicion

World Boxing Council (WBC) president Mauricio Sulaimán revealed Monday that VADA tests conducted on Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios after their July 19 bout returned negative results. The news comes at a pivotal time for boxing, which in recent years has faced several high-profile doping controversies.+

The fight, held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, ended in a draw but left a positive impression regarding Pacquiao’s return to the ring after four years of inactivity. At 46, the Filipino icon showed he can still compete at the elite level, fueling speculation about future matchups against names like Gervonta Davis or Rolando Romero.

“Just received from @Vada_Testing the final notification of testing performed on @MannyPacquiao and Mario Barrios for their fight, and all negative,” wrote Sulaimán on X. He also thanked Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and Al Haymon for ensuring the event complied with the “Clean Boxing Program.”

Uncertain Future, but Full of Possibilities

For Mario Barrios, despite criticism over his performance, he managed to retain his belt and remains in position to pursue a title unification. Both he and Pacquiao have expressed interest in a rematch, which could become one of the most appealing bouts in the welterweight division.