Draw that propels Manny

MANILA, Philippines — It’s a standoff.

There’s no breaching history. No stirring comeback. No winner.

The highly anticipated return of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao after a four-year lull against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios ended in a controversial majority draw with the Mexican retaining the title.

And in the process, Barrios emerged the virtual winner for keeping the title and the belt as Pacquiao failed to unload his vaunted explosive offensives against the champ.

The tall Barrios used his height and heft to his advantage and fired away with jabs and combinations to keep the Pinoy challenger at bay.

The judges scored it 115 -113, 114-114 and 114-114.

“I thought I won,” Pacquiao said.

It brought to mind his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez in May 2004 in Las Vegas – a bout that also ended in a controversial draw on judge’s error.

Pacquiao blasted away right in the first round, knocking down Marquez three times but the Mexican recovered and held his own to finish the fight bloodied but still steaming with energy.

But it ended in a shocking split draw.

Two judges submitted 115 -110, and 110-115, and the third judge American Burt Clemons scored 113-113 by giving Pacquiao a 10-8 on the first round while the two other judges had it identical 10-6.

The draw gave birth to the fierce rivalry that would go through four fights over three decades which Pacquiao would use as key that opened the cutthroat world of prizefight which the Filipino phenom would dominate for the next 31 years.